Finally got a Webcam going.

After lots of fiddling with a reasonable recent version Samsung Mini DV Camera, I was able to get it up and working as a Webcam.

I remebered when I bought the camera abut 3-4 years ago, and reading the book, it said that it could be used as a Webcam via the USB connection. Unfortunately, since then I have changed OS to Vista x64, and I couldn't get a USB driver that would load on my system.

Someone suggested that I try streaming the camera via the IEEE (Firewire interface). Lo and behold, there came the shout EUREKA!!!

Since then I have downloaded the free SKYPE software that lets you do video calls to others.

I sent out invitations to all my contacts, and Wednesday, Doug (http://dgls-57.blogspot.com/) called me and we setup a video call. I've known Doug for several years vis Blogger, Facebook, and originally Bigblog. We have also exchanged emails of that time.

It was great to be able to talk face to face with someone you have only known via the written word. This is the way it should be with the technology now available at such reasonable prices. In fact, it cost me nothing to get up and running, since I already had a camera that I could use. That is probably true for most people if they only knew it.

That first contact via video, brought back that same thrill as the first time someone (Grotty) commented on my first blog. It's given me a new lease on web life so to speak.

As you can see, I'm running off at the mouth just like I used to.

That's enough for now, my Son is calling me on Skype ---

Cheers all.

Windows Live 2009

Join me on Windows Live to chat...

Anyone know what's happening with Grotty?

I've been a bit worried about Grotty. She doesn't respond to any of the messages that I leave on her sites.

I just sent her an email and hope to hear back from her.

It's sad that people drop out of circulation. I know I did for a few years. I missed talking to people, but I was sufferring from depression at the time and couldn't even put two consecutive words together, let alone put a post on any of my sites.

I hope that Grotty comes back - I miss her wit and the conversations that we used to have.

Grotty was the first person that I ever spoke to on BigBlog. She was the one that took the time to welcome me there and introduce me to some of the other people on the Blog at that time. (We need to have more people like Grotty. And especially, we need to have Grotty!)

If she hadn't done that, I would probably not have carried through with my first block, and have dropped out of site without ever talking to the friends that I have met here.

Sometimes Grotty is kinky and strange, and at other times she is completely down-to-earth. She is a rare mixture of fun and love for all the things that she does - besides being a darned better photographer the I am.

Ever tried Muvee products?

I'm currently creating a photo show for a friend who's Son is about to turn 21.

I've done a lot of these over the years, especially for Birthdays, and I'ver tried out many products. I have a preferrence for applications that give you the most control of the final product, because all of the automatic show producers that I've used have left a lot to be desired.

I visited an old friend (one that I hadn't seen for nearly 40 years and found out recently that he lives 5 minutes away from where I live) who has similar hobbies to mine. He introduced me to a product called 'Muvee Autoproducer'. This is another product that is intended to make a compilation of photos and videos into a show with minimal effort from you. However, this product does quite a respectable job on its own [unlike all the others that I've tried] and also allows you to tweak things to suit your own tastes.

I downloaded the trial version, tried it out, and was extremely pleased with the result.

The resulting video is as close as anything I've ever done to what appraoches a professional job. I recommend you giving it a trial run and see for yourself.

Grumpy

The Microsoft IE 8 Fiasco

Hi,

I downloaded and installed the latest (and supposedly greatest) Internet Explorer from Microsoft last week.

Now, I can't say that I've ever experienced the problems with any of the previous versions of IE that I have with version 8, my memory is at times faulty, but I'm pretty sure that it has NEVER completely locked up all the open windows on the screen in such a way that I had a need to access Task Manager to resolve the problem (that is, open Task Manager to close down the offending application - IE-8).

After this had happened a number of times, I decided to revert back to the previous version -IE7. Uh-Uh, can't do.

In the first place, unlike other applications that are to reside on Windows, and which Microsoft demands have a roll-back plan to ensure that users aren't left in a no-win situation, Microsoft themselves - it seems - do not place any priority on customer satisfaction (unless you refer to the extensive - multi page - feedback system that I went through and I think don't believe they even think to access the feedback from).

They have not only - NOT provided an uninstall for IE8, you can't even install IE7 over the top to roll-back. In fact when I tried to roll-back to the previous version that I have been using for 6 months on my new Vista 64-bit system (by the way, the version of IE8 that I installed was tailored for Vista 64-bit) I got a message on the screen that said that this version of IE was not applicable to this version of the operating system (i.e. Windows Vista 64-bit).
I have to ask myself then, how in the hell:

1. How did the PC provider (DELL) install IE7 on Vista 64-bit if it IE7 is not applicable to that system?

2. Why did MS not supply a version of IE7 that WAS applicable to - their own new OS Vista 64-bit. (In fact they supplied both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and both versions were installed on my system when I received it,, so I guess this begs another question doesn't it).

3. If IE7 WAS (and definitely was) installed on my PC, why can't I roll back to that version??????

4. Since both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of IE7 were installed on my system when it was received, why Oh why can't I just roll back and not be told that IE 7 is not appropriate for this bloody PC??????

If you have an answer to ANY or ALL these questions, you should be in charge of MS because they have NO ANSWERS AT ALL.

I went through a lengthy feedback survey, and got to the final page where it said that MS 'WILL GET BACK TO ME WITH AN ANSWER' and I'll bet their answer is just more bloody questions (some of which I've already answered for sure).

If you have had a similar problem with IE 8, I would appreciate your comments.

Now, you know why I'm called Grumpy - ??

Grumpy - 18/06/09

Facebook | Terrence Dunn

Facebook Terrence Dunn: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAg9NXgzRmU"

Eddie Estrada and band at Turkish Restaraunt Brunswick

Eddie Estrada and his band at a Turkish Restaraunt in Brunswick. Eddie is a workmate of Lorna's. We went to the restaraunt to watch his band and this is an extract.

I hope you enjoy it.

I finally got my new PC on-line

Hi there. I bought a new PC from Dell and I've had a bit of bother getting on-line due to a combination of Vista 64-bit and the BB modem supplied by Bigpond.

Seems that Vista 64-bit won't let me use the modem's USB connector. I've had to connect to the modem with the Ethernet connector. This gives me a faster Internet connection, but I can't get my other PC on-line since I need to connect to it via the one and only Ethernet point.

The solution will be to buy a router, but I can't afford it, so I'll just have to be happy with what I've got.

Good to be back on-line though regardless.

Diagnosis

One day, Pete complained to his friend, "My elbow really hurts. I guess I should see a doctor."

His friend said, "Don't do that. There's a computer at the drug store that can diagnose anything quicker and cheaper than a doctor. Simply put in a sample of your urine, and the computer will diagnose your problem and tell you what you can do about and it will only costs you $10.00."

Pete figured he had nothing to lose, so he filled a jar with a urine sample and went to the drug store. Finding the computer, he poured in the sample and deposited the $10.00.

The computer started making some noise and various lights started flashing. After a brief pause, out popped a small slip of paper which read:
1. You have tennis elbow.
2. Soak your arm in warm water, avoid heavy labor.
3. It will be better in two weeks.......

That evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was and how it would change medical science forever, he began to wonder if this computer could be fooled.

He decided to give it a try. He mixed together some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, and urine samples from his wife and daughter. To top it off, he masturbated into the concoction.

He went back to the drug store, located the computer, poured in the sample and deposited the $10.00. The machine again made the usual noises, flashed its alights, and printed out the following analysis:

1. Your tap water is too hard.
2. Get a water softener.
3. Your dog has ringworm.
4. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo.
5. Your daughter is using cocaine.
6. Put her in a rehabilitation clinic.
7. Your wife is pregnant ....... twin girls. They aren't yours. Get a lawyer.
8. And if you don't stop masturbating, your elbow will never get better.

This is an amazing Optical Illusion

If you continue to focus on the cross in the center of the image you will notice that ...

the circle of violet circles will soon DISAPPEAR completely .. and you will see only a green spot.

Truly amazing - yes?

Friendly Neighbour

Pool Sign

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT:

If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.

When you dial a wrong number, someone always answers.

After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible spot.

If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire and not be able to use that excuse.

The phone rings most often when the body is immersed in water, or you are seated in the toilet.

The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will!

The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to how far you can reach.

People with seats at the furthest from the aisle always arrive last.

As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

You betcha.

Our Sink Cupboard is Ruined

We had a water leak from the Dishwasher hot water connection. The washer disintegrated when I tightened it to stop a leak. The leak stopped - I watched it for a few days and the leak had stopped. I guess the connection must have been bumped getting pots and things in and out of the cupboard. Lorna opened the cupboard on Friday and this is what she saw!

An insurance assessor is coming tomorrow morning to have a look at the sink cupboard. I think they'll probably replace the whole lot!

What to do if you drop your mobile phone into water

Last week while I was at work I inadvertently dropped my mobile phone into some water. The water was as deep as you find in the bottom of a toilet bowl (so you have some idea of where I dropped it:() ).

I'm going to tell you what you need to do to have the greatest chance of getting your phone working again, and to prove that I know what I'm talking about, my phone is working again with no loss of functionality.

If this happens to you, there are some Do's and Don'ts:

When I told my work mates what had happened, the first question was "Have you tried it, to see if it still works?"

This is the most important Don't: Don't try to turn the phone on. If you do, I can guarantee that it will never work again!

First Do: Open the phone immediately and remove the battery and SIM card.

Second Do: Leave the back off the phone.

Third Do: Dry the battery especially the contacts.

Fourth Do: Shake out as much water from the phone as you can. And dry as much of the phone as you can with a dry soft cloth.

Fifth Do: Place the phone in a warm, dry place for it to dry out. Phones have a maximum temperature above which they shouldn't be exposed. Make sure that wherever you place the phone. it does not exceed this temperature (like out in the sun would definitely be a no-no).

Sixth Do: Wait until the phone has dried out completely. A good gauge of this will be the display panel. Any moisture in the display will cause discolouring, and/or visible moisture spots in the display panel. If there are any of these remaining - no matter how small, the phone is not dry yet.

After you have determined that the phone is dry, re-assemble it, cross your fingers and any other appendages that you may have and have the dexterity to cross, then turn on the phone. (It may be necessary to uncross some fingers to do this and that will definitely reduce the chances of your phone working, so try to do it with fingers crossed.).
(Note: The previous comment does not necessarily reflect the beliefs and/or attitudes of the author!).

If all is well, and the phone works, you can send me a thank-you email. If not, don't blame me, you dropped the bloody thing - not me!

By the way, these instructions only apply to fairly clean water. If the water has detergent or any thing else in it, you may need to thoroughly flush out the phone with clean water (preferably distilled water to be on the safe side).

Hope this works for you as well as it did for me!

I'm sure it's up here somewhere.

And finally, the last ingredient is...

Don't forget to stir well!

A man and his young wife were in divorce court,

but the custody of their children posed a problem.

The mother leaped to her feet and protested to the judge that since she brought the children into this world, she should retain custody of them.

The man also wanted custody of his children, so the judge asked for his justification.
After a long silence, the man slowly rose from his chair and replied...
"Your Honor, when I put a dollar in a vending machine and a Coke comes out, does the Coke belong to me or the machine?"

I'm spending more time on FaceBook these days.

Hi there. Wondering where I've been lately?

Well I'll tell ya. When I first joined Facebook, I thought it was a load of junk (I'm still tending to think that most of it is!), but there some aspects to that I like.

For instance you can control who sees your personal videos, either singularly or groups of people.

So if, for instance, you have a regular group of people that regularly get together for BBQs and you take videos of the times that you are all together, you can share your videos with this group of people, and they can all have a look at them whenever they like.

Anyway, you can find me over there. Why not come over for a chat - Oh, bye the way - that's another thing BB and BS don't have and that's a facility to just chat with your friends when they are online. And FaceBook let's you know when they are - cool:)