Tech Teach for December 20, 2022

 Hello everyone!

It's been way too long since one of these went out.  Sorry.  Been a few changes in my life lately, still a few more to come.  No worries, not planning on going anywhere yet.

Next Sunday is Christmas Day!  Hope everyone is having a good time with decoration, wrapping gifts, and spending time with friends and family.  Oh, my, it seems like it went so quickly this year.

I know many people are out shopping, both in person and online.  Keep a close eye on your statements.  Scams can happen at any time, this time of year the most.  If anyone calls saying they are from your financial institutions, your stores, or from some technology company ("Hi, this is Microsoft, your computer is sending viruses!"), hang up on them.  Or use some of your "loquatius" words on them!  I've had two people nearly get taken for multiple thousands of dollars.  They'll ask you to transfer funds, get gift cards, or make some kind of transaction to move money from you to them.  Please, if it sounds funky, it probably is funky.

Better yet, let your answering machine answer the phone.  Then block the numbers.

Call your bank, credit union credit card or other financial institutions immediately.  You'll be spending days, if not weeks, changing account numbers, passwords, and other information to get things straightened out.

Gentle reminder to run your computer's anti-virus and anti-malware software.  Windows Defender, Avast, Avira, Norton, whatever's installed.  Malwarebytes AntiMalware if you have it.  If not, go to ninite.com, click the box and follow the instructions.  All the software there is free for downloading and use.  (If you have Windows 10, do not install Windows Security Essentials, you already have it as Windows Defender.)  If you choose another security software, Windows Defender will be disabled in favor of your choice.

Also, with the end of the year, deals for technology are everywhere.  If you're looking at a new computer, 8GB (gigabyte) of memory is a must.  If you are a casual user, you might be able to get away with 250GB of storage.  Like taking pictures or creating documents?  Go for 1TB (terabyte) / 1000GB for all those moments!

I'd also try to avoid "entry-level" processors, like Pentium or Athlon.  Try to go for at least a Core i3 or Ryzen 3.

Unless you are playing games (something more graphically stressful than Solitaire), the onboard video is fine.  If you want to play games (like my favorite game, Elite Dangerous), or edit photos and videos, then you want a dedicated video card.  You might see these being called "nVidia GeForce" or "AMD Radeon" with differing levels of performance.  Higher numbers are usually better.  So an RTX 3080 is better than an RTX 3050, while an RX6400 is the entry level, and an RX 6700 is better.

If you look around and don't find something that meets your needs, let me know.  I'll do my best to help.  If it's a desktop, buying parts and building a computer is a great option.  Then you get exactly the parts for what you want to do.  (And I really enjoy building computers.)

I don't think you can go too wrong with any of the manufacturers right now.  Though, I do have my favorites.  Dell, Asus, Acer are ones I tend toward, with HP still being toward the bottom.  Your experience may differ.  I've had some HP's last years and years, while some Dells have been long gone to the recyclers.

If the budget is tight (I know how that is), Dell usually has some awesome deals on their refurbished computers.  Plus, Dell keeps a list of current coupons for use.  Some items are on sale for as much as 55% off for some workstation class machines.

If you have lots of files, make a backup of the data.  Easy way is just a flash drive of some size, I'd say at least 64GB USB flash drive, for as little as $5.50.  If you want to make a larger backup, then you are looking at a USB external hard drive.  They come in two forms now: Solid State Drive (SSD) and Hard Drive (HD).  The big difference is that SSDs have no moving parts (using chips like memory to store data), while HDs use a spinning disk to store data. 

HDs start about $50 for 1TB / 1000GB, SSDs are about the same for 256GB.

Thank you for your time and allowing me to help with your computer needs.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to let me know.  I'll always do my best to help.  And if you know someone that might be helped by this email, please forward it along.

And on that, let me wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone!

All my best to everyone!

Seven Questions

 

THIS IS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN A MAN AND HIS WIFE.  PLEASE NOTE THAT SHE ASKS SEVEN QUESTIONS, WHICH  HE ANSWERS QUITE SIMPLY. BUT THEN SHE IS SPEECHLESS IN TRYING TO RESPOND TO ONLY ONE QUESTION FROM HIM. Wife: DO YOU DRINK BEER? Husband: YES Wife : HOW MANY BEERS A DAY? Husband: USUALLY ABOUT THREE. Wife: HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY PER BEER? Husband: $5.00 WHICH INCLUDES A TIP (THIS IS WHERE IT GETS SCARY!) Wife: AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING? Husband: ABOUT 20 YEARS, I SUPPOSE. Wife: SO A BEER COSTS $5 AND YOU HAVE THREE BEERS A DAY  WHICH PUTS YOUR SPENDING EACH MONTH AT $450. IN ONE YEAR,  IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $5400 CORRECT? Husband: CORRECT!   Wife: IF IN 1 YEAR YOU SPEND $5400, NOT ACCOUNTING FOR  INFLATION, THE PAST 20 YEARS PUTS YOUR SPENDING AT  $108,000 CORRECT? Husband: CORRECT! Wife: DO YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU DIDN'T DRINK SO MUCH BEER, THAT MONEY COULD HAVE  BEEN PUT IN A STEP-UP INTEREST SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND   AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR COMPOUND INTEREST FOR THE PAST  20 YEARS, YOU COULD HAVE NOW BOUGHT AN AIRPLANE?   Husband: DO YOU DRINK BEER? Wife: NO. Husband: WHERE'S YOUR AIRPLANE?

Yep, super true!

 I used to be able to do cartwheels. Now I tip over putting on my underwear.

I hate it when I see an old person and then realize we went to high school together.

My wife says I only have 2 faults. I don't listen and something else...

The officer said, "You drinking?" I said, "You buying?" We just laughed and laughed. I need bail money.

Day 12 without chocolate. Lost hearing in my left eye.

A dog accepts you as the boss. A cat wants to see your resume.

Life is too short to waste time matching socks.

Wi-fi went down for five minutes, so I had to talk to my family. They seem like nice people.

I won't be impressed with technology until I can download food.

Some people call me crazy. I prefer happy with a twist.

I really don't mind getting old, but my body is having a major fit.

Camping: where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person.

Project Manager. Because Miracle Worker isn't an official job title.

I told my wife I wanted to be cremated. She made me an appointment for Tuesday.

Measure once, cuss twice

I've reached the age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me.

If you're happy and you know it, it's your meds.

What happened to the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence

 via @KweenJosie

https://twitter.com/KweenJosie/status/1444134817239638019

This is probably the most important thread I will ever do (9/11 rescue dogs, aside.) I want to tell you about what happened to the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence. Freedom does not come free. It is pivotal as we devolve into tyranny that we know what that means.

The Continental Congress, approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. 56 men signed it.

Signing the declaration was a sacrifice involving risk. Sometimes those who sacrifice never regain what they gave up. Some don’t see the results that later generations see, enjoy or experience. And the risk might include the ultimate sacrifice – giving one’s life for the cause.

• Five of those 56 Declaration signers were captured by the British and tortured as traitors.

• Four of the 56 Declaration signers lost their sons in the Continental Army or had sons who were captured.

• Nine of the 56 Declaration signers fought and died in the American Revolution.

• 12 of the 56 Declaration signers had their homes looted and destroyed.

Carter Braxton of Virginia was a prosperous planner and trader. His ships were destroyed by the British Navy. He lost his home to pay off the debts and died in poverty.

Thomas McKean of Delaware was harassed mercilessly. His family went into hiding during the war, moving multiple times. He served in Congress without pay and died in poverty.

Thomas Nelson JR. of Virginia put his own home up as collateral to raise $2 million for the French allies. The struggling French government was unable to pay back the loans and Nelson’s entire estate was wiped out.

Frances Hopkins of New Jersey and William Floyd of New York both had their homes confiscated and used as housing by the British.

Frances Lewis of New York had his wife imprisoned by the British where she died. He also lost his home and everything in it.

John Hart had to leave his dying wife’s bedside to flee the British. For more than a year, he lived in caves and forests. He returned home to find his wife dead, his 13 children missing & of his property gone. He died shortly after of physical & mental exhaustion & a broken heart.

Lewis Morris and Phillip Livingston died of similar circumstances to Hart’s. Too sad and exhausted to carry on.

Declaration signer Richard Stockton, a New Jersey State Supreme Court Justice, returned to his Princeton estate to find that his wife and children were living like refugees after he was betrayed by a Tory sympathizer. British troops captured and tortured him with starvation.

When Stockton was finally released, he went home to find his estate had been looted and burned. He had been so badly beaten in prison that he died before the war’s end. His surviving family lived the rest of their lives off charity.

At the Battle of Yorktown on the York River in Virginia, Thomas Nelson, Jr.’s home had been overrun by British Gen. Charles Cornwallis, who had taken over the his home for headquarters. Nelson urged Gen. George Washington to open fire on his own home.

Washington agreed. This was done, and Nelson’s home was destroyed. Cornwallis later surrendered the British forces at Yorktown in 1781, ending the fighting in the American Revolution. Nelson, one of the brave and noble 56 signers, died bankrupt some years later.

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence came from various walks of life. Most were considered well-educated for the time. The 56 included lawyers, store merchants, farmers, teachers, one surveyor (Abraham Clark) and of course one multifaceted genius (Ben Franklin).

Each of them knew the risks that being caught by the British or exposed by a traitor carried. Still, they signed that beautiful document. Still they persisted.

And because of these brave men, many whose names are nearly lost to history, The Declaration of Independence, along with the U.S. Constitution, set the foundation for the greatest nation on earth.

Up until the American experiment, every single ruling class was some kind of dictatorship. But because of those 56 signers, who believed so deeply in freedom, self ownership & a Republican form of government, we had an explosion of innovation, creativity, success, and prosperity.

While I can look at evidence and history and make a qualified logical hypothesis on where the next year, 2 years, of 10 years will take us, we can’t know for sure. But I do know that while America the institution is dying, America the idea still exists in all of us.

While I can look at evidence and history and make a qualified logical hypothesis on where the next year, 2 years, of 10 years will take us, we can’t know for sure. But I do know that while America the institution is dying, America the idea still exists in all of us.

**True Story of Rudolph**

 A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.  His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing.

Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.

Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears.

Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.
 
Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little  girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped  them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced  to live in a two-room apartment in he Chicago slums. Evelyn died  just days before Christmas in 1938.
 
Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined a make one - a storybook! Bob had created a character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling.

Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.

Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. 
 
The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph the  Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an  updated version of the book.

 

In an unprecedented gesture of  kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from  the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story  doesn't end there either.  
 
 Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to  Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists  as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing  cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released  in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than  any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." 
 
The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.

THE COMPUTER SWALLOWED GRANDMA

 The computer swallowed grandma.

Yes, honestly its true!
She pressed 'control' and 'enter'
And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus
Or been eaten by a worm.
I've searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind;
I've even used the Internet,
But nothing did I find.
In desperation, I asked Beeves
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found 'online.'
So, if inside your 'In box,'
My Grandma you should see,
Please 'Copy,''Scan' and 'Paste' her
And send her back to me

A few good Senior Moments

 Garage Door

The boss walked into the office one morning not knowing his zipper was down and his fly area wide open. His assistant walked up to him and said, 'This morning when you left your house, did you close your garage door?' The boss told her he knew he'd closed the garage door, and walked into his office puzzled by the question.  
As he finished his paperwork, he suddenly noticed his fly was open, and zipped it up. He then understood his assistant's question about his 'garage door.'
He headed out for a cup of coffee and paused by her desk to ask, 'When my garage door was open, did you see my Hummer parked in there?'  
She smiled and said, 'No, I didn't. All I saw was an old mini van with two f la t tires..

 

---

An elderly gentleman....  
Had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%  
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, 'Your hearing is perfect.. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.'  
The gentleman replied, 'Oh, I haven't told my family yet.  
I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!'

---

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: 'Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?'  
Slim says, 'I feel just like a newborn baby.'  
'Really!? Like a newborn baby!?'  
'Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.'

---

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.  
The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, ' La st night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great.. I would recommend it very highly.'  
The other man said, 'What is the name of the restaurant?'  
The first man thought and thought and finally said, 'What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love?  
You know.... The one that's red and has thorns....'  
'Do you mean a rose?'  
'Yes, that's the one,' replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, 'Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to la st night?'

---

Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital.  
After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.  
On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.  
'I don't know,' he said. 'She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.'

---

Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember ....  
Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks.  
'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?'  
'Sure..'  
'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks.  
'No, I can remember it.'  
'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so as not to forget it?'  
He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.'  
'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?' she asks.  
Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!'  
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, The old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a p la te of bacon and eggs.. She stares at the p la te for a moment.  
'Where's my toast ?'

---

A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy:
'So I hear you're getting married?'  
'Yep!'  
'Do I know her?'  
'Nope!'  
'This woman, is she good looking?'  
'Not really.'  
'Is she a good cook?'  
'Naw, she can't cook too well.'  
'Does she have lots of money?'  
'Nope! Poor as a church mouse.'  
'Well, then, is she good in bed?'  
'I don't know.'  
'Why in the world do you want to marry her then?'  
'Because she can still drive!'

---

Three old guys are out walking.  
First one says, 'Windy, isn't it?'  
Second one says, 'No, it's Thursday!'  
Third one says, 'So am I. Let's go get a beer..'

---

A man was telling his neighbor, 'I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dol la rs, but it's state of the art.. It's perfect.'  
'Really,' answered the neighbor . 'What kind is it?'  
'Twelve thirty..'

---

Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.  
A few days la ter, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm.  
A couple of days la ter, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, 'You're really doing great, aren't you?'  
Morris replied, 'Just doing what you said, Doc: 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.''  
The doctor said, 'I didn't say that.. I said, 'You've got a heart murmur; be careful.'

---

One more. . .!  
A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool.. After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.  
The waitress asked kindly, 'Crushed nuts?'  
'No,' he replied, 'Arthritis.'  

How to lick a bowl

 

Just a little help

 

 

A man was driving down the road and ran out of gas. Just at that moment, a bee flew in his window.


The bee said, 'What seems to be the problem?'


'I'm out of gas,' the man replied.


The bee told the man to wait right there and flew away. Minutes later, the man watched as an entire swarm of bees flew to his car and into his gas tank. After a few minutes, the bees flew out.

'Try it now,' said one bee.


The man turned the ignition key and the car started right up. 'Wow!' the man exclaimed, 'what did you put in my gas tank'?



The bee answered,








Wait for it.wait for it..







You're just gonna love this..













I see you smiling 

Headlines

 WOMEN SHOT IN CITY.  BULLET IS IN HER YET

.....what is her yet?

The trouble is,  is that some of us have possibly taught the people who wrote these headlines  - - -HHmmmm!!

  

 

Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn't  you say?  Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter  This one I caught in the SGV Tribune the other day and called the Editorial Room and asked who wrote this.  It took two or three readings before the editor realized that what he was reading was impossible!!!  They put in a correction the next day.      I just couldn't help but sending this along. Too funny.    Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says        No crap, really? Ya think?  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers          Now that's taking things a bit far!    -----------------------------------------------------------  Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over          What a guy!    ---------------------------------------------------------------   Miners Refuse to Work after Death   No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!  ------------------------------------------------------   Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant   See if that works any better than a fair trial!    ----------------------------------------------------------  War Dims Hope for Peace    I can see where it might have that effect!   ----------------------------------------------------------------   If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile     Ya think?!  -----------------------------------------------------------------------   Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures         Who would have thought!   ----------------------------------------------------------------  Enfield (  London  ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide    They may be on to something!  ------------------------------------------------------------------------  Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges         You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?    ----------------------------------------------------------  Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge        He probably IS the battery charge!  ----------------------------------------------   New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group   Weren't they fat enough?!  -----------------------------------------------    Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft   That's what he gets for eating those beans!   ---------------- ---------------------------------   Kids Make Nutritious Snacks          Do they taste like chicken? ****************************************       Local  High School Dropouts Cut in Half          Chainsaw Massacre all over again!   ***************************************************  Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors          Boy, are they tall!   *******************************************   And the winner is....   Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead