"Rescuing" Old Blogs

The other day I got a phone call from a total stranger. He said that his name had been mentioned on a blog post of mine, and he wanted his name removed. I said:

"No problem."

But then when he told me which blog, I explained that it hasn't been active for years, and I don't even know how to get into it. It had been controlled by an email/gmail name/account no longer in use. When he called, I wasn't home, and it seemed pretty impossible to access it from my phone. It would be near impossible from the computer.  I promised to try once home.

I asked him to send me the link to the post, which he did. I looked at the post and messaged him that I hadn't meant any harm. He was understanding, but really didn't want his name there.

Of course, it was pretty surprising to me that he discovered my cell phone number. I didn't ask him how he did it. It isn't all that secret. In the days when we only had landlines, most people allowed their phone numbers to be easily/publicly listed.

Once I got home, I emailed myself the link to the blog post and took on the challenge. I was pretty determined to figure out how to fix the problem, get into my old blog, because over the years I've heard of writers/bloggers/publishers/site-owners being sued for unauthorized use of pictures, names etc.

I finally discovered the email address which had been controlling/accessing it. The next challenge was to sign into the account. After a couple of wrong turns, I found out that my yahoo email was listed for such emergencies, and the yahoo is kept open on the computer. After that it was relatively easy to sign in, find the blog post, edit out the person's name. And then I hit another snafu. When I signed out of the account I somehow signed out of this one, too. Grrr. Of course, since I no longer sign in and out daily, I never remember the password. Then phone was used for sign in verification. Only after that did I realize that I should have added this email to the old blogs as writer/contributor/administrator.

What old blogs? You're probably wondering...

The Muse's Pics
Blog Free!

What do you think of them? As history, of course. No, I have absolutely no intention of adding to my blogging.

I'm relieved that I succeeded relatively easily. Why do people say that only kids manage well on the internet?

NEVER TOO OLD!

Internet Repair, New Router for Me and "Baile Rochel"

Everything here is exactly as it happened. But as I began writing I knew that some of you would insist that it could only happen to Baile Rochel. So, we're sharing credit.

I can't quite say when it started... For at least the past few months at least, we've had intermittent stoppages of our internet service in the house. There wasn't a real "pattern" except for Murphy's Law.
Finally, late last week, I couldn't take it anymore and bit the bullet. I called the complaint line aka "tech support" for Bezeq. The girl, probably young enough to be my granddaughter, was very sweet. By pressing a few magic buttons where she sat, she told me that she can see that I've had periods of time without proper internet service. This sort of thing is like science fiction for someone of my generation. I told her that the last time the Bezeq guy came he had to replace all sorts of cables. That was after I had to argue with the "tech support" who wanted to send me a new router, which I'd have to install!?!

The sweet young thing on the phone didn't make such unrealistic demands. She typed a few more commands into her "magic ball" and told me that the repairman would arrive Monday morning between nine and eleven, 9-11.  So, I set my phone planner to remind me to be suitably dressed on time. He shouldn't knock on the door when I'm in the shower...

No, he didn't come when scheduled... he came earlier! But he called first to say he was driving to a nearby community to pick up his security guard. Yes, that's pretty funny. The local Bezeq technician lives a short walk from my house and had to drive unescorted to get the guard... Yes, I was fully dressed and all when he arrived.

The technician checked out a few things, more science fiction stuff, and announced that we have been paying for 100 whatevers, but our router can only handle 15, or something like that. And that's why our internet keeps taking breaks. So then he coached my husband through a "chat" with one of the Bezeq sales people to change our package and pay less. When it got too complicated for us, he took the phone and spoke. The salesperson asked:

"Who are you?"
"Their grandson."

And now we'll be paying a bit less each month. And we also go a brand new router which can handle the supposedly faster internet. So far so good, bli eyin haraa.

It's so strange to think that we now live in a world that has technology we never even dreamt of growing up and even as young parents. In all honesty, I haven't a clue how this technology works, and I don't have to know. It's all here for my use and enjoyment.

Shanah Tovah, Metukah Ubri'ah

Have a Good, Sweet and Healthy New Year

We Don't Shop on Internet, So are We Unnecessarily Paranoid?

money
every penny counts

Sometimes I think that my husband and I are the very last people to resist shopping on the internet via our phones and computers. I haven't even paid for the "extra reliable antivirus" that cost money. There are two basic reasons I haven't started.

1. I just don't trust the security, since anyone can access via phone, computer, hacking etc.
2. It's just too easy to buy things you don't need or you never would have bought if you had seen it f2f.

When I was at the bank recently, I asked the young "banker clerk" if she thought I was a bit crazy in refusing to use our credit card on the computer. She insisted that I was, "because it's all insured," she insisted. I had been wondering if it's possible to get an additional card with limited usage, meaning we'd have to periodically add money to it, and it would be impossible to allow it the accepted Israeli "overdraft" and subsequent fines-interest charges. The clerk pooh poohed that idea. Maybe because she's trained to help the bank make more money, like from interest and overdrafts.

Another reason I haven't really wanted to shop online is that I prefer dealing with real people. That's one of the reasons I did so well as a saleswoman in Yafiz for all those years. 

I also asked on facebook, which is such a helpful open forum at times like this. People did say that you can report unauthorized use of your credit card, but then you do have to prove that it wasn't you. And according to a friend, to do that quickly enough you must set up your account so that you get immediate notifications.

Finally on facebook a couple of people told me that we can buy special credit cards from the post office in which we fill it with a specific amount of money, and it can be recharged when empty. Those sound just like what I had envisioned. The only problem is to get to a post office when it's open and when I have time to go in.

What do you think?

Repair Day: Washing the Internet?

OK, to make sense, both the washing machine and the internet connection needed repairs. Honestly, I really can't complain. It's not like I'm always stuck home waiting for repairmen. It's actually pretty rare. And considering that I was expecting two in one day... Now, that's timing one must thank Gd for!! For sure.

Just like with illnesses, I don't rush for professional help when there's a technical glitch. I hope that it will "heal"itself. It did start seeming strange and suspicious when the "locked" light would suddenly be lit on the washing machine... while it was off and even when the door was open. It's supposed to remind us that the door can't be opened, even if you pull real hard. And if you pull hard enough, you may cause serious damage to the washing machine. But the light kept suddenly going on, and it didn't keep the door locked. And then the whole house shorted when I turned on the machine. Yes, that couldn't be ignored, like Hillary Clinton's fainting in public. There are times you must call in the professionals. So, while Hillary was home in Chappaqua trying to beat her pneumonia to submission, I took a break from my laundry and waited for the repairman.

And as you know, since I had blogged about it last week, we have been having internet connection problems. The idiots Bezeq customer service telephone staff kept trying to offer me a new router box. They would even have it delivered any place in Jerusalem, so we could install it ourselves. I declined and demanded a technician. It took a week, but he finally arrived.

And as you can see, the problems had nothing to do with that little box. As I had suspected, it was all in the cables.

Now we can get back to business washing and blogging... and a bit of facebook and email, too.

Internet Problems

Here's what I wrote on Facebook a short while ago:

We didn't have internet since last night. So this morning when the top light was still red, on the router, I called Bezeq, and within minutes, we're back in business, B"H.

And then we lost connection yet again.

That red light on top is bad news.

I don't know what's going on here, but apparently the problem isn't in the house exactly, or the phone call wouldn't have helped.

Last night, when I got home from work, very late, and my husband complained that he didn't have any internet on his phone, we sent out a couple of notes to the yishuv/local email group to see if we're the only one with problems, and nobody replied.

Bli eyin haraa, so far so good. Right now we're connected.

Grrr... More Internet Woes

You may have noticed that this posting is a bit later than my usual. Until a few minutes ago, just as I was reporting that there was no internet in the house, just as I was about to bang, tap, type our phone's "identity number" into my smartphone, the red light on top of the router (or whatever it's called) turned a healthy green.

This is the logo, which ironically says:
"Bezeq- The Best at Home"

So now my morning schedule is fokokt, but at least it's on now.  Spoke too soon, at this point all the upper lights are off... but when they're back I'll post this, Gd willing.

Internet Woes

Recently that red light has been on a lot. That indicates no internet, and with no internet I'm not a happy camper. We use Bezeq or some combination of Bezeq and Netvision. Nothing is clear to me except that no matter how much cheaper each deal is supposed to be we pay more and get worse service.

And What Did I Do Instead of Blogging?

It was more than just the lack of blogging, when I didn't have internet in the house for my computer. Though I could receive and send emails on my phone and check facebook, the tiny phone screen and faux keyboard made typing a nightmare, especially for me who does "touch-typing."

Suddenly I wasn't spending time in the den. There's nothing to do in the den without internet. So I read some fun books and watched more television. What books? I read books from the Rizzoli & Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. I definitely recommend them.

Not blogging and not having internet wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be.

The world survived without reading my opinions on everything. And there are things I could have done on the computer that don't need internet, but I just did not feel like doing any of it. I guess I needed a break.

Yes, B"H, I am Back!!!

I did not plan this past week's hiatus from blogging, not at all. And I'm very proud that I didn't have a "breakdown" over it, since I've been so OCD about daily blogging on both blogs, here and Shiloh Musings.

There's a very mundane reason for it. About a week ago when I turned on my computer there was no internet. On that fully little tower with the flashing light, with G-d's help green not red, the INT was dark, yes, just dark, neither green nor red. So when I checked the wall and plugs, I found that there was a broken box with tiny wires sticking out. And there were books on the floor, meaning that some of my husband's books had taken a nosedive and crashed into the box. There was no way for us to fix it. We called Bezeq, and the service guy said that all we had to do was to buy a new microfilter. My husband got one, but we couldn't plug it in.

Again we called Bezeq, especially when I checked the phone in the den, which was dead. It was during Passover, so the local Bezeq repair guy was on vacation. And even though I do know him and his wife, I wouldn't dare call and disturb them. This wasn't a health issue. It was only internet. We still had our phones, and my husband works part-time in an office with internet.

For me this was a "test," obviously. I was curious to see if anyone would miss me. Obviously the answer is in the negative.

Today, finally, the repairman came and replaced the plug and explained a few things about it to me. He also commented that this computer is very ancient, implying that it needs to be replaced, but I told him that as long as it works it stays.

Yes, the lights are all on, and I'm back in business, blogging business as you can see, B"H.

52 Frames "From Where I Stand" and Havel Havelim

I don't know why I'm combining these two internet projects I'm involved with, but here goes.

"From where I stand" was this week's theme/challenge on 52 Frames. Unlike most of the other photographer participants, I didn't want to look down at my feet. I had to look forward, to see where I'm going and what's approaching. I have to be ready to step out and take advantage of all possibilities.

Just a couple of hours after the new week's theme began I found myself standing at a bus stop in the dark of the night waiting for a bus home. I was nervous, because the number wasn't on the sign. My husband was sure it still stopped there. Thank G-d he was right, because after a few minutes it did stop there. And as an added bonus I managed this shot:

And from where I stand in the cyber-world, the world of internet, I'm still a blogger and still believe that blogging not only has an important place, is an important activity. That's why not only do I still blog daily on two blogs, this blog and Shiloh Musings, but I'm very involved in our weekly Jewish blog carnival/round-up called Havel Havelim. And I'm also the initiator and coordinator of the Kosher Cooking Carnival.

Blogging is an opportunity for all who have a message to get across to be his/her own newspaper or magazine owner/editor. The only cost for a blogger is time; that is bedsides the expense of a computer, internet etc. Blogging can be done on a tablet or smartphone too. Blog carnivals turn bloggers into a community or magazine staff. We help each other out by promoting, reading and sharing other people's blogs. And in that way others will get to know our blogs.

This week's Havel Havelim is hosted by Esser Agaroth and is worth reading and sharing. We coordinate hosting on our facebook page.

And, yes, facebook is the "home" of 52 Frames. See, there is a connection! Please check them both out, thanks.

Just Switched to Google Chrome, B"H, What an Improvement!!

For the past week or more, I've been suffering from slowdowns and delays using this computer.  I finally realized that the other computer in the house is fine, so it can't be our internet connection.  And what is was the big difference?  The other one has been using Google chrome, while this one was still with windows explorer.

So, I did the obvious intelligent thing.  I installed Google chrome.  I quickly sent out an SOS to Facebook and a neighbor speedily replied with the link.

And now, B"H, my computer is working like a teenager on speed, totally hyper.  I feel like I've been reborn. And it's free, of course.

Amazing Modern Gadgets

We never took up the internet/smartphone option on our cellular telephones.  My husband and I have the small, ordinary ones that are capable of allowing internet etc, but we "opted out."  I prefer old fashioned human contact, although I do email, blog, facebook etc plenty on the computer in the house.  When I'm out of the house I prefer people.  I really can't stand it when I see people looking at their screens when there are people to talk to, or especially when they are in conversation with me.  It's rude.

A good friend, who although she has one of the apple phones with all sorts of built in gadgets (and also knows how to ignore it when in conversation) showed me one of the more surprising little inventions it includes.

Her finger tip is orange, because the pulse (and possibly the blood pressure too) is being "read" by the phone. It's spooky.

When my sister-in-law was here from the states for my son's wedding she made a lot of use of the new ipad her kids had given her for Mother's Day.  One amazing feature was the "video calls" it could make to matching appliances/gadgets.  When I mentioned that I needed a nice bag for the wedding, she called her son, instructed him to go to her closet and find a bag to bring for my use at the wedding.  No, he didn't go with the house's cordless phone. He had his "gadget" which has a built-in camera, so we could see the bags.  That's how I chose the bag I borrowed to use at the wedding, from Jerusalem to Westchester, NY.  And then he brought it along to Israel...

My phone is still a phone, plus an alarm clock.  It does have a camera, but there's no way to use the pictures or transfer them, since I'm not online.

But I must admit that I'll get one of those, not one of the more expensive models, next time.  It just makes more sense.  My digital camera is "ancient" and will have to be replaced any time now.  Many of these smartphones have cameras that do more than my old camera.  The only thing it doesn't have is a viewfinder, which I'll miss.  I need to have my reading glasses on to see details in the camera's screen.  But to be honest, around the same time I upgrade to a smartphone, I'll have upgraded my glasses to multi-focal or bifocal.

By the time I get one, I'll probably still be behind the times...

Internet Security-- Locked Out-- Suspended

Last night I somehow found myself locked out of my own facebook account.  On one hand, I'm glad they're on the ball about trying to keep out security breaches, but, on the other hand, I was the one being locked out. 



my present profile picture

They did offer me a couple of chances to prove my own identity.  I was supposed to identify fb friends in some pictures.  The first picture seemed impossible to know who was in it.  Like most facebook users I've collect or amassed a number of fb friends whom I don't actually know or don't know well enough to greet in the street.  And many of us frequently use profile pictures that aren't quite us.  So how can I be expected to know who's in the pictures they showed me?  So I opted out and took a chance at my identity question.  Somehow, probably a spelling snafu considering the late hour and my brain's limitation after fasting and late shift at work, I goofed that one, so facebook suspended my account.

This morning I saw lots of facebook messages from various fb friends in my mailbox so I tried again.  Thankfully, facebook gave me another chance and actually asked me to identify someone I have known forever.  That was a good sign, and I easily recognized all of the other people I had to identify.  Then I had to change my password.  That is much harder, since now I have to remember the new one and the old one was so simple...

Why Couldn't They Post A Notice Saying: "Nothing Personal?"

Since last night, internet here has been non-existent or "spotty" at best, and I'm not referring to Dick and Jane's dog.

Finally, after 6am, I called that "04" number all Netvision subscribers should have taped to their "computer tower" like we do or on speed dial.

A sleepy sounding tech help guy answered. I was wondering if I should apologize for waking him up! Well, he does get paid to be alert no matter which of his 24/7 shifts he's assigned to. So, I reported:

"Since last night, I've been having trouble connecting to the internet."
"Ahh, you have a Bezek modem, yes?"
"Yes"
"We're doing some work."
"Work? Well, how much longer will it take?"
"Another couple of hours."
"Oh, that long?"
"Yes"
"Thanks"

And now I'm back on line, bli eyin haraa. It would be so much nicer if, like the "referrer" at the bottom of this blog, they would post a notice that they're doing maintenance. Blogger also has notices they put up about it as does blog patrol.

I have a busy day planned, not at all like yesterday, which was so depressingly quiet and boring.

paperless!

I didn't read the newspaper this past Shabbat. Not for any change in principle, just a pragmatic reason. There was a foul-up in deliveries, and there weren't any Jerusalem Posts in our local grocery shop. I only read the paper once a week and supplement on the internet. We asked our married daughter to try to get us one in Ofra, but after grabbing a Post and rushing to the check-out, our son-in-law suddenly noticed that it was the French edition.

Will I survive? Of course!

ps There are lots of Hebrew-language newspapers here in the house, but I don't read them.
pps Luckily I discovered a book to read, so in the rare time I had for reading, I wasn't bored. This week, I probably would have had trouble finishing the paper. The next generation kept us very busy, Baruch Hashem!

Shavua Tov and Chodesh Tov