COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Moh]

Sorry Kev. thanks - it gets confusing when all the quotes are involved - note to self - must read answers properly !!

[Big Kev]

Sorry Kev. thanks - it gets confusing when all the quotes are involved - note to self - must read answers properly !!

It's OK, Moh. It made me smile

[Stanley]

In one interview they quoted the example of how difficult it was to detect these bombs as in the printer bomb. It took a while for them to realise that the explosive was the black powder in the printer cartridge.

[Tizer]

I don't want to worry anyone but I've posted this because I think it's fascinating to see what's going on around us...
`Tomorrow's cities: Are your shoes giving away data?' LINK
"Shops and retailers are taking over where street cameras left off, watching shoppers' every move. According to a 2015 survey of 150 retail executives from IT services firm Computer Services Corporation, a quarter of all British shops and 59% of fashion retailers use facial recognition software. Such technology is vital as offline stores attempt to keep up with online retailers, said Duncan Mann, chief operating officer at retail analysis firm Hoxton Analytics. "Online retailers gather all kinds of information about shoppers and physical stores also want to understand how people behave in a shop," he said. But, he admits: "A lot of these technologies are kind of invasive..."

[Whyperion]

I think all I generally buy is mums regular shopping list, plus toilet rolls and cat food (cat is better fed than I am)

[Stanley]

All my boots and shoes are at least 20 years old so I may be safe from this quarter!

[Tizer]

This is an example of what we might see more often in the future. I've warned about the power that companies now have over customers deriving from the remote control of software on gadgets, home appliances, cars etc...
`Garadget faces backlash after locking out irate user' LINK
"The maker of an internet-enabled garage door device is facing a backlash after blocking its use by a customer who had complained about the tech. The owner had written negative comments about Garadget's kit on both Amazon and the start-up's own site after having problems with its app. People have expressed concern about the US firm's actions...."

[Tripps]

That's the main reason I'll be 'smart'. and won't be having a 'smart' meter. A lot of these apps are solutions in search of a problem.

The name Professor Meredith Thring comes to mind in these situations. I remember him on TV, probably 'Tomorrows World', showing a robot which was taught to clear the table after a family meal . I don't think it ever really caught on.
Even as a professional futurologist he didn't foresee the demise of the dining table in favour of ready meals on the lap in front of the TV, and I doubt that even 'telechiric mining' would have saved the coal industry.

I'm being very negative at the moment - I'll seek out something positive today.

[Stanley]

One good thing about a smart meter is the fact you can apply for free leccy from BG on Sundays from 9AM to 5PM. I shall do all my washing on hight temperature and cook a chicken in the oven on Sunday. That means a warm kitchen as well!

[Big Kev]

One good thing about a smart meter is the fact you can apply for free leccy from BG on Sundays from 9AM to 5PM. I shall do all my washing on hight temperature and cook a chicken in the oven on Sunday. That means a warm kitchen as well!

It sounds good in theory but are you not paying the standard BG rate, for gas and electric, for the rest of the week?

[Stanley]

I am on their cheapest tariff as befits my age and poverty..,.,..

[Big Kev]

That's good then, wouldn't be of any benefit to me

[Stanley]

It'll come Kev.....
Don't forget your cordless drills.....

[Big Kev]

It'll come Kev.....
Don't forget your cordless drills.....

I will bob round tomorrow morning, thank you. I must bring a bit of card and a pencil too, need to make a template of your winding engine baseboard.

[Tizer]

One good thing about a smart meter is the fact you can apply for free leccy from BG on Sundays from 9AM to 5PM. I shall do all my washing on hight temperature and cook a chicken in the oven on Sunday. That means a warm kitchen as well!

All you need now is some of those s/h fork-lift-truck batteries and you could run your electrics free all week!
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`Regulator to tackle contactless card security flaw after MSE investigation'
"Bank customers who have cancelled a lost or stolen contactless card may no longer have to check months or even years of statements for signs of fraud, after the regulator announced new measures to tackle a major security flaw...the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has promised Parliament it will clamp down on the vulnerability, and has outlined what it now plans to do to reduce the risk of post-cancellation fraud and help victims. LINK

[Pluggy]

All you need now is some of those s/h fork-lift-truck batteries and you could run your electrics free all week!
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Hmmm, got me thinking, I already have batteries, chargers and Inverters to make this work.........

I'd need bigger stuff all around to make it worthwhile.. The present setup is only good for maybe a couple of kWh a day at best. The excess solar power from my panels charges the batteries during the day and it runs some of my stuff when its dark.

[Stanley]

Good man Kev, nice timing as well, we are approaching a finish of the winder. I say approaching, still a lot of fiddly work to do yet!
I'll not bother with the batteries Tiz. My thinking was that fixing the rate could be a goody because I expect energy prices to rise and 8 hours free leccy is a no-brainer.

[Tripps]

Had a tussle with the machine last week. Noticed it would not open PDF files. Lots of deleting and reinstalling, - at the limit of my ability - then I found almost accidentally that Firefox 'no longer supported' the format. That's computer speak for 'refused to open'.

Finally resolved by using another browser 'Opera' for the purpose, so I can read pub menus and horse pedigrees again. Hooray. I can also use Adobe Flash to watch my favourite webcam -

Puerto de la Cruz

They do the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain in Rome too, and the entrance to the concrete pier at Deal - which is in all fairness, a bit of an anticlimax. Perhaps we should have one in the square at Barlick?

[Stanley]

David, I'm on Firefox and it opened that webcam OK. Never had a problem with PDFs. Send the address of one that yours refused and I'll try it. Could be an advantage of running under Ubuntu 16 64bit.

[PanBiker]

It all works for me as well, Firefox on Win10.

[Tripps]

I use Firefox with Windows 7. This an example of what happens. I click on the 'click here', and I am invited to save the file as an Adobe Acrobat file. Pub menu PDF

[PanBiker]

It opens up directly for me. Been reading the notes, support for Adobe Acrobat has been withdrawn but Firefox has it's own built in PDF reader. Are you using the latest version of Firefox, mine is 53.0 on my laptop (32 bit).

[Tripps]

Thanks all for your help and advice. I think mine is Windows 7, 64bit - not sure how I know that. I can do what I want to do - so I will leave it there. I've had a quick look into Firefox innards, but more confusion has resulted. Life's too short to solve problems that are resolved.

[Tripps]

Well - I've given myself a good talking to for negativity, and tried again.
Success - when all else fails read the instructions. Looks like it was actually being told to save PDF's rather than open them. I've changed that to 'open with Acrobat Reader' and it now works.

Hooray.

[Stanley]

Good, never let the technology get the upper hand David..... Have a trip up to Barlick for a jolly and drop your computer in with Pluggy for an hour......