technology » TubaOrNotTuba

11th July 2019

Wishing for skilled help

posted in technology | Comments Off on Wishing for skilled help | 265 words

8th July 2019

Could it be that my GPS company is trying to send me a message? Subtly, letting me know that all of my hardware gadgets are seriously outdated, and that I should invest in their bottom line. You see, we have (at least) three Garmin gadgets around here, and I decided to investigate if there was a way to upgrade the maps. Roads do evolve. Turns out that the Garmin utilities have nothing but scorn for my toys.

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posted in technology | Comments Off on Packed by dry weight, my eye | 275 words

7th July 2019

Too big, too small, or not at all

That feeling where your life is going down the fairy tale road: our RV has a dash mounted GPS. The maps are “outdated”, for lack of a better term. I spent some time reading up on the situation, and it seems I can purchase newer data from the manufacturer. So far, so good.

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posted in technology | Comments Off on Too big, too small, or not at all | 256 words

3rd July 2019

My novel switching method

Yesterday, I could hear an alarm. Intermittently. And so, after checking the obvious sources, I went into the stance where you listen and lean, hoping to locate the source. I did; the UPS in the upstairs office was sounding off. Unplugged everything, decided that the internal battery was at fault, pulled it out and ordered another one from the good folks at Amazon.

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posted in ham radio, technology | Comments Off on My novel switching method | 265 words

13th June 2019

Keeping to the back roads, by choice

For years, the word Chautauqua was tucked into one of those seldom opened drawers in memory. I think it came through learning about Leacock, or maybe it had to do with one of the plays at the Confed Centre. No matter. Today, I sat down to supper in a small restaurant on the shore of Lake Chautauqua, and I have a better idea; it has to do with the world of summer, and boats, and band concerts in gazebos. At least, I think so. No matter.

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posted in technology, travel | Comments Off on Keeping to the back roads, by choice | 312 words

11th June 2019

Inside that shiny shell

Seeing how something is made, in the mechanical world, can be very educational. Plus, when you don’t have to disassemble something valuable (of your own, on your own), it can be the highlight of a vacation day. This afternoon, after following two pages of carefully printed instructions from the clerk at the campsite, we landed in Jackson Center, OH.

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posted in technology, travel | Comments Off on Inside that shiny shell | 307 words

21st May 2019

Moving water around

Today was a reunion date, for my dear wife, with a cousin she hadn’t seen in ages. We agreed to get together for breakfast, in what can be termed “neutral territory”, and then stayed put for hours. The poor waitress with her ready smile and coffee pot was close to despair, when we finally left our table just in time for her noontime rush.

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posted in technology, travel | Comments Off on Moving water around | 305 words

20th May 2019

Sitting behind real steam

Asking other people for advice can give you unexpected responses. Be it over coffee, or over the Internet; today I asked for a scenic road out of Drumheller, and read a comment to “take the first one you find, it doesn’t matter. Just get away!” It wasn’t that bad, from my point of view. Oh sure, the warning sign beside our campsite read “Beware of ticks and snakes”, but that’s just a sign that there are pests.

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posted in technology, travel | Comments Off on Sitting behind real steam | 265 words

9th May 2019

Sensory fog

We made it through Night One, without freezing; that bodes well for the next few weeks. Today was not scheduled for travel, as we have family to visit. However, we also had to schedule a sudden visit to the garage, when the side door refused to open. Or close. Actually, the whole door seemed to be caulght in one of those curious sensor fogs, where nothing works as planned. Not exactly robotic, but close enough.

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posted in technology, travel | Comments Off on Sensory fog | 261 words

6th May 2019

A just in time reversal

Enough with my weather-based procrastination. I’ve been waiting for a sign that we won’t freeze overnight, going forward. I’ve watched the temperature climb, and it looks like the deep grasp of winter has been broken. So, today I flushed the anti-freeze.

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posted in technology | Comments Off on A just in time reversal | 264 words