Sandy Hook

My heart breaks at the scope of the tragedy experienced by the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School.  I cannot imagine the depth of grief of those whose lost loved ones, children and school staff, to senseless violence.  I can only pray for them in my helplessness.  "God be with them and give the solace and Peace."

I have done supply service at a church in the Sandy Hook area.  These are fine people and in no way deserving of this tragedy, though I cannot conceive how kindergarten children anywhere would deserve the violence of Friday morning.  I can only hope that the families can find God's healing grace in their lives. 

This was senseless violence and senseless loss and I cannot imagine what might lead a person to do what that young man did.  I only know that the technology for that violence was all too readily available and that is a failing of our society.  Guns don't kill, but a person with a gun can kill all too easily.  We as a society and a Nation need to do something.  The violence in our country is deadly and insane. 

I need to go back to writing my Sermon.  Hopefully i will make some sense.

Love,
Shel

Politics and the land of crazy

I don't usually write a lot about politics, but it seems to me that politics has taken a decidedly crazy turn.  Several things lead me to this conclusion.  In what world is there a war on Christmas?  Just look around you and tell me the season.  There is NO war on Christmas in the USA!  Can any politician be seriously considering taxing feminine hygiene products?  I guess one might consider this if one were planning political suicide.   The next crazy words from a politician are that vaccines are causing people to be Gay.  Since virtually everyone in the USA is routinely vaccinated then there should be an epidemic of Gayness.  As far as I know the percentage of gay people has remained stable.

Now that is off my chest I can go back to other things in my life.  It does make me wonder though, how on earth did these people get elected?  Oh well!  Some things in life are ment to be mysteries.

More Windows 8

I am still on the Windows 8 kick.  I have been using it now for a while so I have more experience.  One thing I want to make clear, is that it works!  It is not fatally broken.  I am still having some problems, but they may just be my issues.  First, my desktop is still broken.  it may be a coincidence but my desktop will not fully boot after installing Windows 8.  I still have not fully diagnosed the situation since I have had more pressing issues.  I will let you know wen I know more and fi the problem.

My laptop has been running fine with Windows 8 with some provisions.  I still have some issues with Windows Update, namely 5 updates that consistently fail.  I have tried all the recommended remedies and they all fail.  I am hoping that there will be some new fix for the issue.  I want to avoid the drastic move of cleaning everything off and starting fresh.

I have added a free program to the mix called "Classic Start Menu."  it has made Windows 8 run more like I want, just like Windows 7.  I need to say now that Windows 8 looks like it is a great fit for the new generation of touch screen laptops and tablet like devices.  Tablets under Android and IOS have become very important additions to personal and business computing.  We will just have to see if Windows 8 brings Microsoft into a major position in  this market.  I still do not see the advantages to the user interface if you are using a more traditional desktop, laptop or netbook.  The interface is so different that there will be a big learning curve.  This probably won't be a problem for the younger and more adventurous, but will for the more established users; those who are comfortable with Windows XP and Windows 7.

One overall thing I have noticed Windows 8 seems to be very disk intensive.  It reads and writes to disk a lot more than Windows 7.  This causes congestion and subsequent hanging.  Interestingly, task manager shows this much clearer in Windows 8.  Again I think that the problem is that Windows 8 has been optimized for devices that are using primarily solid state disk storage.  This is just a guess.

On a personal note,  I am finding it a bit difficult to deal with the Holidays this year.  This is the first year without my father around and I am noticing his absence. This is just a part of life and I am dealing with it but it has added a somberness to the season for me.  Speaking of the season, it is Advent.  I know our society insists on making this time an orgy of shopping and parties, but in the Church we celebrate a season of expectation and preparation in Advent.  Last Sunday we remembered the prophecies of the coming of God's Kingdom and the coming into this world of the hope for Peace and Salvation.  Blessings to one and all!

Love,
Shel

The Windows 8 adventure

I have been experiencing Windows 8 Professional.  Sigh!!!  Microsoft seems to get it right every other operating system. Windows 7 is great!  I only switched to practice working with it.  I will eventually have someone call me with a Windows 8 problem.  New computers will come with Windows 8 and people will be stuck with it.  Yes, I said stuck with it!  I installed Windows 8 Pro on my desktop first.  It now isn't working.  I haven't fully trouble shot it so I don't know what to blame yet.  I'll let you know though. I then put it on my Laptop.  That is what I am using now and it works.  It did not kill my Laptop.  I must say there are still some driver issues which may be Toshiba's problem. 

The major issue I see with Windows 8 is that Microsoft drastically changed the user interface, without asking it's user base.  Much of my time with the operating system has been spent trying to find easy ways to use it.  The interface was clearly made for a tablet and would be reasonable for a tablet device.  I have two tablets, one running Android and an Apple Ipad 3.  They are distinctly different from a Laptop or Desktop.  The needs are different and the access methods are different.  I could have seen it if Microsoft had made it easy to use the Start Screen (formerly Metro) or the Desktop, but they have gone to great lengths to MAKE you use the START menu.  There are few options (some third party solutions exist and there is a way to use the scheduler to run the desktop) to avoid the use of the START screen.

If you haven't heard or figured it out the start screen is NOT the start Menu! They are quite different ways to achieve similar results.  If you have been a Windows user for a long time you will scream in horror with the new system.  My figuring is that Microsoft was looking for a way to solve a problem that doesn't exist.  They saw the increasing tablet use and panicked.  Apple has been much more sane about the whole business and maintained the integrity of their OS X versions on Laptops and Desktops and used IOS versions for the mobile devices (iPhones, iPods, and iPads.)  In fact, Microsoft has a special Windows 8 for their Tablet devices and for their Phones.  I wish they had taken more of a lead for Apple here.

I am working at Learning and adjusting.  I have tried to work with "out of the box" Windows 8 Pro but admit I have gone to some third party solutions.  My favorite so far is Classic Shell.  It is free and it works.  I'll let you know more later.

Until then,
Love Shel

oops!

Apparently Mitt Romney has found a new Country.

Frustration!

Politics!  The state of today's politics leaves me just frustrated.  I want to think everything will work out no matter who wins, but I really don't believe it.  I grew up in a Republican family,  but I truly am far far from the current republicans.   Against a long-standing policy of mine I will be making political commentary from time to time.  This election is so important! 

Love,
Shel

Oh, So,So, Much!

So much has happened!  First and last in importance, our internet connection sucked for months.  Starting in December our internet suffered the slows.  AT&T was called numerous times to check as it turns out everything.  There must have been six visits.  They replaced portions of the inside wiring.  The changed the wireless router/modem.  They changed TV boxes.  Some things were fixed, but the wireless continued to SUCK!
I just added a Wireless N access point and Magic things work.  Apparently their wireless router is less than....
Oh face it it is a piece of Cr*P.

There have been physical problems.  I am hope tonight and not at the Gay and Lesbian Film festival because I don't feel very well.  The biggest problem came several weeks ago.  I had an "Happening."  I thought the happening might have been a heart problem.  I even called 911 and the paramedics came.  By the time they came I was feeling much better (it didn't take long for them to arrive, either.) I have had every cardiac test short of surgical procedures.  I am apparently just fine.  I apparently had a form of heat exhaustion and dehydration. I may also be having a virus.  So I drink a lot in the heat now and I just live through the virus symptoms.  I'll take that over heart problems any day. 

Mentioning the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, I would have been working at it if I hadn't been taking tests for the "happening."  I have missed so much this year with my father's health problems and death and now this!  I wouldn't have done things differently, but it has been quite a year.

Have a great night,
Love,  Shel