What started as a description on using the Zune has morphed into comments on daily happenings--especially common ones that no one would EVER put up with a generation ago. If you're here to see Zune entries, go down the right-hand column for "Zune HD"
I've learned (I thought) from past experience to be wary about system updates for Windows. Everything is tagged 'Important' it seems. Here's what I have today for example:
21 'Important Updates'--and here they are:
Starting off, I don't have any Microsoft Office 2007 on this computer. That eliminates all the Office 2007 stuff--shouldn't be on the list, obviously.
Next up are these Windows 8.1 Updates. I had previously 'installed' some updates on a prior time, and many of them failed, except ONE-----> KB2976978
That little gem said successful. About three days later my Office 2013 (specifically Excel) didn't open properly. First time it was a bunch of vertical lines where the info should be, the next time it was blank in the info area. Scared to death something had corrupted my Excel files. Stopped right there. Went through the 'repair' stuff in the programs page. No luck--came back with some kind of 'error' note. Luckily I still had my Office 2013 Program ID so after some contortions with logging on with Microsoft etc. I was able to reload Office. One hour+ lost to history, but I thought all was fine.
Three days later the SAME THING HAPPENED! I had created a store point after the first break, so restored that. Nope, still broken. Last thing I wanted to do was do all that download stuff again. I remembered then that little ol' KB2976978 was the only thing to update in my last go-round, so I went in and 'uninstalled' the update. Of course you know what happened.
Excel worked just fine again. Talk about avoiding a bullet.
Curiosity led me to check out - just what was this update supposed to do anyway? (Besides breaking Excel). Well here's what the support page says:
"This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. The diagnostics evaluate the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem, and help Microsoft to ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows. There is no GWX or upgrade functionality contained in this update."
Wow, who else feels more confident now about Microsoft products? (Don't all raise your hand at the same time)...
1/25/2020
If you've been around as long as I have, you probably have some Frequent Flyer miles that have been hanging around for some time. Realizing that these miles (many earned in the 1990's and 2000's) have become worth less and less over time. At many on-line frequent flyer blogs they are in fact referred to as "SkyPesos", probably not a favorable term. A recent experience reconfirmed that.
In the 1990's (as I remember them) you could only use your miles for someone else if they were a relative. I don't recall if miles were transferred or just what the mechanism was. There is a transfer mechanism today for SkyMiles, but it costs so much to use that it essentially makes the miles valueless!
In my example, I was looking to transfer some miles to a relative so they could visit me in the next month or so--a round trip from Seattle to Austin. First up, I checked to see what the miles would amount to for a First Class ticket--here's what I found:
Mileage chart for Week of Feb 19-26
So the MINIMUM miles for anytime that week would be 62,000 miles + $11.20. That seemed like a lot of miles, so I checked the airfare. Here's what I found:
While the amount ($734.80) wasn't cheap, I had seen fares on this route ranging from $500 to $1100, depending on time of year, etc. Using miles instead of $$$ for this trip would value the miles at 1.17¢/mile. Not worth much at all!
But it turns out that transferring miles to another person costs money--a lot of money. Here were the latest "rules" for transferring miles:
Under the "Transaction Terms", we find that the cost to transfer 62,000 miles is $661.20. Here is how that breaks down.
But I could buy a ticket (and earn about 4,000 miles!) for only another $73.60. This example shows you what Delta thinks of you!
The only time it might seem reasonable to transfer miles is if the transferee is 5,000 or fewer miles short in their account. But otherwise--NEVER TRANSFER MILES WITH THIS SCHEME!
So far the only mechanism I've seen to get around this is for the original holder of the miles to buy the ticket for the user. There are no additional mileage charges in that case. I've seen questions about having the credit card used available at check-in but I'm not sure on the details for that.
USA Today and others posted in the last few days that "200 Walgreens Stores Closing". It's no wonder with their pricing policies.
I needed some Amlodipine to fill a prescription. I knew that walking in off the street Walgreens would soak you. I just didn't know how much. On my initial visit, they were going to charge me $58 for 30 tablets 10mg. I had just recently learned of GoodRX.com where I had cross-checked prices and they were nowhere near this number. I mentioned it to the pharmacist, then had to dig out the coupon on my phone. They dropped the price to around $19. Still high compared to others, but I thought $3-4 for convenience was ok.
So recently I went back for a refill. Now the price is $28! With the coupon! I went to check GoodRX.com Here's the list:
Wait--most expensive was Walgreens "WITH MEMBERSHIP"? What does that mean?
So with a $20 annual membership, you can then get it for $10, according to GoodRX. But I can walk in off the street at H.E.B. and get it for $12, and not be tied to their pharmacy. But to do that at Walgreens? Fork over your $69.78!
Forget that. I hope my local Walgreens closes and I can get a replacement store with reasonable pricing.
Bad enough that Rashida Tlaib, the new congressperson from south Detroit, talks about being a proud Palestinian, rather than a proud American, but then in a celebratory speech in a bar, she proceeds to call the President a motherf***er.
It reminds me of a song with the line "If it wasn't for low class, she wouldn't have no class at all."
Here's a clip of her inability to control herself. Jump forward to 4:20 to get to the heart of the matter.
forward to 4:20
Hopefully her son wasn't there to hear this, but it was a momentary peek behind the Trump Derangement Syndrome curtain that is held by the Democratic Party.
They would rather destroy President Trump than help the country. That is obvious with their refusal to provide adequate funds for border protection, instead keeping the federal government in a shutdown status.
Your term is about to end. Frankly, I’m pleased you’re about
to leave. When you arrived in 2009, it was with real hope that you could
uniquely unite America and reinvigorate its constituents. Some of us carried a
bit of cynicism about your desire to do that. Sadly, we were right.
After four years of your leadership, the country was still in economic
doldrums. But Americans reelected you in spite of this. Maybe it was guilt, maybe it
was to provide a second chance. But it ended up no better. So what will your legacy
be? Here are some items to consider:
1.Operation Fast and Furious
Your Justice Department allowed thousands of guns to pass into the hands of
smugglers, in hope of tracing them to Mexican cartels. You lost track of them
resulting in your Attorney General Eric Holder being held in contempt by
Congress for his refusal to turn over documents about this failed operation
that ended up providing a gun that killed border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
2.State Department E-mails
In a brazen attempt to keep her communications private (in violation of federal
laws), your Secretary of State set up a private server outside thegovernment’s purview, using it to transmit
classified information, even communicating to you, Mr. President. You in return
sent emails to her non-government ID. Even your FBI Director James Comey had to
report that the secretary and her team were “extremely careless” in protecting
our national secrets.
3.Benghazi
America lost Libyan Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others in an attack on
the consulate in Benghazi. Your government’s response with just two months left
in the campaign of 2012? You failed to immediately use available covert forces. (Note: See 13 Hours for details). The Secretary of State claimed the attack was a
reaction to A VIDEO, with Ms. Clinton even telling this lie to one of the
victim’s parents. You even pushed a judge into jailing the video’s author.
4.Hacking at the Office of Personnel Management
This hack exposed millions of federal workers’ information—the biggest data
breach in government history. Katherine Archuleta, the Office’s manager, had
been warned repeatedly about security deficiencies but never took the time to
have them fixed.
5.Scandal at Veterans Affairs
Over 35 veterans died waiting for appointments at an Arizona VA facility.
Because of the abhorrently long times (sometimes many months) to get an
appointment, the VA actually went to the trouble of creating a secret waiting
list, to hide the lengthy waits. You admitted such in November, 2016 when you
acknowledged “it was scandalous what happened”.
And the list goes on.
Your administration never once achieving 3% economic growth in a
given quarter (for EIGHT YEARS)—matching a record that went back to the early
1930’s.
Billions of $$$ are being spent for a high-speed train in
California between L.A. and San Francisco that is now 7 years behind schedule,
with the first leg between Fresno and Merced still not built.
You authorized a policy in your Justice Department against
policemen resulting in increased crime across the country as police everywhere
pulled back on active policing, resulting in multiple loners targeting and murdering police.
You DOUBLED the national debt—overspending in eight
years more than any ALL OTHER PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS COMBINED in history.
You authorized negotiations and then signed an “executive order” that authorizes Iran to become a nuclear power. This was all part of a failed foreign policy where the
USA is now perceived as weak as a world power. You didn’t do a treaty because
you knew the Senate would never approve.
You authorized the swap of one low-level U.S. deserter (Bowe Bergdahl) for five significant Taliban leaders being held in Guantanamo, a crass move that reeked of politics over country.
As a result of your policies, your party lost seats at all levels of
government, resulting in the fewest number of Democratic representatives since
the 1920’s.
That, sir, are some highlights of your legacy.
Now we’re on to hope and change again. And we’re hoping this
time it will be real hope for a good change, not a bad one. Put away your pen
and your cell phone, Mr. Obama. I for one am glad to see you go.
Addendum 2/1/2021
How bad was Obama? Thomas Sowell, renowned economist, with his opinion (in 2016):
