Banal Leakage » email

Remembering My Brother’s Birthday

martymankins — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 01:11:06 +0000

Greg and Marty – Taken on September 2, 2006

Today is my brother’s birthday. For reasons obvious, I won’t tell you how old he is. I’m respectful to my elders.

I remembered to send him a card this year. Most years, I try to call him on his birthday. We normally end up talking a good hour, mostly catching up with life since he’s “off the grid” [I think he had an email address, but not sure if he checks it that often] as I’m so used to texting, emailing, tweeting or leaving a post on a Facebook wall for birthday wishes to pretty much anyone, the phone call is the best option for wishing him a happy birthday.

Memories Growing Up

Family portrait from December 1965

Memories I have from my childhood were filled with my brother hanging out with me. He was from my mom’s first marriage. I came a good many years later. Growing up without a father was never an issue for me, since my brother was around. He was my male role model. He taught me many things, one of which was about cars. All kinds of cars. My brother loved Mustangs and even at the age of 5, I could tell them apart by year. He had a 1967 green Mustang that I would ride in with him. Another thing he taught me was locations and how to find my way around Orange County. And to this day, that trait has stuck with me, although I admit GPS does help for those places I’ve not been to before.

I don’t see my brother much. He lives in California and I live in Utah. Not too far apart, but enough to where even my visits to California don’t always include a drive up to his house.

When our mom passed away in 2006, we spent some time together, mostly going through my mom’s apartment and finding things like photos. He’s been to my house once with his wife (in 2006) and it was nice to hang out for the day. We have our differences as all siblings do, but we find enough in common to talk about, when we do.

I need to find some time soon to visit him again. And with today being his birthday, there’s nothing that weighs heavier on my mind that to have some time to catch up again.

Happy Birthday, Greg!

Hope your day is great.

Calendar No Longer Me

martymankins — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:25:12 +0000

Not using the MobileMe calendar …. for now

Back a month ago, I mentioned my calendar syncing changes I needed to make due to the MobileMe calendar moving to a CalDAV format, which would break my syncing with all of my devices.

With so many changes I needed to make in order to keep all of my calendar and todo list data in sync, I decided to simply do the MobileMe calendar upgrade, but remove it from syncing with any of my devices – including my iPhone and iPad.

While it’s nice to see Apple adopt standards like CalDAV, it doesn’t mix well with my mixed set of devices. My Palm Pre requires syncing from local iCal calendars. Plus, each time I sync my iPhone and iPad, they can sync from those same local iCal calendars. So not all is lost, except one of the services I’m not using from my paid MobileMe subscription. All that’s left that I continue to use is email, Address Book syncing and iDisk for other backups I do.

Which means, come October 2011, I may be making even more decisions on whether to renew. Stay tuned.

The iPad So Far

martymankins — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:11:19 +0000

It’s now been over five months since I bought my iPad and started integrating it into my daily life.

To some, it’s just a giant iPod touch. To others, it’s a limited device that can’t view Flash websites. To me, it’s been a really cool device that’s not only fun to use, but has changed some of my productivity, how I view media, a solid and fast device to check email and another option to tweet.

I bought the 16gb WiFi model on the first day – April 3, 2010. Since the official unveiling in January 2010, I thought of this device as something that could feasibly replace a netbook I don’t use because it’s too slow, runs Windows and didn’t fulfill the promise of me using it to write. My MacBook Pro has always been used more often for writing. And while I am still working on a workable solution using the iPad for writing, I’ve been able to use it for more than I had originally intended, given the many apps that are now available for the device.

Here’s a summary, with screen shots, of the apps I use on my iPad.

BlogPress

Thanks to a Twitter mention from Kim, I found an app that I can actually work on blog posts while on the iPad. I still do the final post from my laptop, but I can now do a majority of the writing from my iPad. The WordPress official app is pure crap and added more frustration to my post creations. So I deleted it and now use BlogPress. Plus, this app also supports more than just WordPress, like Google’s Blogger, which helps for my other blog that I rarely post on. And at a cost of $2.99, it’s priced just right for all of it’s features.

Echofon

This is my main Twitter app for my Mac, iPhone and now iPad. I’ve tried all of the other apps and found that Echofon really has everything that I need. My favorite feature is typing a Twitter username and having it pop up with a list that matches, which I can easily pick from. Very nice for adding multiple recipients in the same tweet. Plus, the same app supports both iPhone and iPad, eliminating the need to maintain more than one app for both iOS devices. Worth the $4.99 without question.

Evernote

I keep lots of notes, but there was never a solution that synced my notes between my Palm Pre, the Mac, the iPhone and the iPad. Until I found Evernote. While most of my notes are still kept on my laptop (and synced to my Palm Pre), all of the main notes I need to see each day have been moved to Evernote. In addition to basic text notes, it has a simple list with checkbox format that allows me to keep my LEGO minifig collection in check. And for free, you get 40mb of data per month, which is way more than I’ll ever need for a long time. Highly recommended even if you don’t use an iPad.

GoodReader

Simply put, this is the best app for viewing PDF files on the iPad. I’ve not pushed all of my PDF files over to it just yet, but as I need a document, it’s just a simply sync from iTunes to have it on my iPad. There’s support for Dropbox and Google Docs and other remote file storage systems. And for 99 cents, it’s feature set exceeds the cost the of the app.

Apple Mail

Built in to the iPad, this app is similar to the one found on all Macs. I’m able to keep on top of my personal email (not including my Gmail) and reply as needed. Each morning, I check my email from the iPad, then leaving messages that need more attention to my laptop for later. This has helped reduce how much time I spend managing my email on my laptop.

Reeder

This is a dedicated Google Reader app, which is my main feed reader for all of the blogs I read. I’m able to read and comment on a regular basis and it’s easy to mark all as read [not that I would do that ] and mark as unread for those posts I want to read later on my laptop. The interface is easy to use, it’s fast and I’ve never had any issues getting around the 120 or so blogs that I am subscribed to. The iPad app is $4.99 and for what it has done to help me read blogs, it’s worth every penny.

Some Adjustments

For the most part, the iPad is awesome. But there have been some adjustments. Typing on the on-screen keyboard produces lots of errors. I’ve been able to eliminate many of the errors over the last 5 months, but still have some frustration trying to type. My next step is to hook up a physical keyboard for dedicated writing, which will help a lot. Also, any web page with Flash doesn’t display, but that’s not been that big of an adjustment. I simply take note of the link and load it up on my laptop later. Finding Wifi access points have gotten better, but still, there’s a good number of apps that I use that need an internet connection.

Overall

So is it worth the $500 I spent? Yes, without hesitation. I’ve been very happy with how well this device has changed how I access the daily data I use. Plus, the ability to watch video via Netflix and Hulu, it’s helped me catch up on TV shows I hardly watch anymore.

So do you have an iPad? If so, how do you use it? What apps do you have installed?

Don’t Want To Be Your Personal Geek Squad

martymankins — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:56:30 +0000

Original image found over on Best Buy

Those who know me, know that my day job is in IT and that I’ve been doing this in some form or another for almost 25 years now [at multiple companies, I might add]. My official title is Network Administrator, with a special emphasis on email administration for the last 16 years, specifically Microsoft Exchange.

I also have a bit of experience in knowing MS Windows since the days of version 1.0 and can work my way around the various OS versions, with the exception of Vista, which I’ve not had much interest in knowing. I admit to liking Windows 7, though, as I silently praise it’s stability and ease of use.

But for those who really know me, know that all of my personal computing is done on a Macintosh for the last five years. In fact, I’ve been a Mac user since 1985, owning a Macintosh 512K [Fat Mac] and various other models over the last 25 years. It’s been my source of sanity for the many headaches I deal with on Windows for my job.

Which brings me to the subject matter of this post.

Can I Ask You A Computer Question?

I regularly get asked to help people fix their computers. Anything from removing a spyware or malware that’s taken over their computer, cleaning out a virus or two, saving their data from a failing hard drive, installing a new computer system, setting up a home network… pretty much any type of computer issue, I get asked and often.

And to be completely honest, I really don’t want to help. Especially if it involves Microsoft Windows. It’s nothing personal against anyone. It’s just that after working all day, the last thing I want to do is fix another computer issue. And most of the time, I don’t get paid for it. Sure I can demand payment and there are times where I do accept payment for my time and knowledge. But in the end, monetary compensation is not a motivation for offering my services. I honestly would prefer not to get involved at all.

Of course there are exceptions. Family, close friends and stuff that I can easily fix with a few simple commands or a program. Not a problem, so long as I don’t become your constant go-to tech guy each and every time something happens you don’t understand. Understand? Good.

Back in December 2008, I posted something similar, ranting about the people that I know that only call me when they have a computer issue. And while I still would prefer not to, I do help those that also remember that I am their friend to discuss other subjects other than fixing a borked desktop. Like going for drinks, talking about making videos, writing stories, gadget geek sessions and anything to do with movies and music. If I’m busy, I do my best to be honest and those who respect me and my time, are greeted with a smile as I offer to help them when I can.

For another take on what I said above, check out this wonderful, extremely funny and accurate scenario that the talented people at The Oatmeal have put together.

Not Always Reciprocal

Another side of my rant is that I rarely ask others for help. So if someone asks for my help, I could in turn, ask for their help with something. But I have no interest in scrap booking, nor do I wish for your help in mowing my lawn or for you to create a religious symbol that I wear around my neck. My rare need for help, when offered in exchange for my computer services, are almost always taken and very much appreciated. [the camera mount on my scooter and the light in our carport are two examples I can think of offhand] Which is why most people offer to pay me, which I’ve already discussed above.

Check List

So if you are in need of help with your computer, take note of the following before picking up the phone or sending that text or email:

Do you only contact me when your computer is broken?
Are you ok with me saying no, even if you offer me payment?
Do you need it fixed right away or can it wait until I can schedule it when it works for me?
Is there something that you know how to do that will be useful to me?
Do you use a Mac? [hint: I'm more open to helping with Mac issues]

If you can go down this check list and answer appropriately, then feel free to ask. If I’ve helped you in the past and it’s been easy or simple and at least 80% of our other conversations are non-computer fixing related, then send that email or text and I’ll see what I do. If I can teach you how to fix the problem, then that goes a long way with me. And of course, if I offer out of the blue, that means I really like you and am willing to help, with the expectation that the above is all respected.

Because in the end, all that I’m wanting is mutual respect and consideration when it comes to technical matters. Which also means, I won’t cringe when you call, email or text. I’ll smile and know I have a friend for life.

Obama Is Pregnant*

martymankins — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:17:49 +0000

[*Slanderous Propaganda]

Obviously the above is not true, but it might as well be. And I’m sure after posting that title above, there will be a hundred Obama haters that add new blog posts, skewing whatever “facts” they need to to claim it as being true. I say, as long as he’s covered by the same health plan that also covers illegal baby rats under the age of 3, it’s all good to me.

Enough Is Enough

My political posts out here are few and far between, but after this last week, I had to speak out. I’ve been barraged by tons of emails, some from the same person, that will stop at nothing to trash and find anything and everything to disparage Barack Obama. Now I don’t agree with everything Mr. Obama has to say and I take issue with some of his positions, and as a politician, he most likely has some black marks that follow him around. I’m all for checking out a candidate, their background and qualifications. But these emails that I’ve received have a slant which supports a certain position, and proves that there’s a lot of people out there that have way too much time on their hands.

EMAIL #1: Obama Not Eligible for President

Here is the text of the email:

Dear Friends,
The following is an article from the July 7, 2008, issue #27 from “The American Free Press” Newspaper, an article by Assistant editor, Pat Shannon.

“It now appears that Barack Obama is consitutionally ineligible for the office of president. John McCain’s eligibility was established in 1964, when courts ruled Sen. Barry Goldwater was eligible although he was born in Arizona when it was a territory, not a state. McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone when it was a U.S. territory.

And, even as the controlled media continues to ignore the ineligibility of Obama, it will not go away. While few doubt that the Democrats will manage to pull off his nomination, all remain poised to view the legal performance.

The first hurdle will be having Obama produce his birth certificate, which so far he has refused to do, and prove that he was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961,as he has always claimed. There is speculation that his American mother may have brought him to Honolulu shortly after his birth in Kenya, but no proof of that has been shown.

According to the law on the books at the time of Obama’s birth, the office of president requires that a candidate be a natural citizen if the child was not born to two U.S. citizen parents. Since he was not,should it be proven that Obama was not born in Hawaii, as claimed, he is ineligible without further debate. But assuring that he was born there, he has another problem.

According to a legal researcher who has contacted the AFP, U.S. law very clearly states: “If only one parent is a U.S. citizen at the time of one’s birth, that parent must have resided in the United States for a minimum of 10 years, five of which must be after the age of 16.” And therein lies Obama’s new problem.

Barack Obama’s father was never a U.S. citizen.

Interestingly, there isn’t much paperwork on the marriage of Obama’s parents, and this has a few researchers speculating that it never took place at all. On page 27 of “Obama: From Promise to Power”, David Mendell writes: “Obama later confessed that he never searched for the government documents on the marriage, although Madelyn (Obama’s maternal grandmother) insisted they were legally married.” He also notes that Obama’s father apparently was not legally divorced from his first wife back in Kenya at the time, a point of contention that ultimately led to their separation. This also would suggest that there may never have been any legal marriage by Obama’s parents at all, but the Constitution does not ban an illegitimate child from the White House, as long as he was born inside the U.S.

Obama’s mother was born in Kansas and was only 18 when Obama was born. This means even though she satisfied the citizen requirement for 10 years, she was not a citizen for at least five years prior to Obama’s birth. In essence, the mother alone is not old enough to qualify her son for automatic U.S. citizenship. At most, two years elapsed from his mother turning 16 to the time of Barack Obama’s birth when she was 18. His mother would have needed to have been 16 + 5 = 21 years old at the time of Barack Obama’s birth for him to be a natural-born citizen. Barack Obama was already three years old at the time his mother turned 21.

Technically, Obama should have been naturalized as a citizen, but that, of course, would disqualify him from holding the office of president. If the allegations are accurate, America could install in January of 2009 a new president who is not even a U.S. citizen, neither born nor naturalized.

It should be demanded that Obama produce his 1961 Hawaiian birth certificate.

If he cannot satisfactorily do so, he should be deemed immediately ineligible to hold the office of president.”

Ok. First, here’s the link to the Snopes.com article: Is Barack Obama a natrual-born citizen?

I tend to check Snopes.com as they have done an incredible job of fact checking. Almost everything that I’ve checked out there, has been verified from fully-qualified sources that show the true facts.

Comparing the text in the email to the detailed response in the above Snopes.com link, it seems that Obama may actually be qualified to run for President. The perpetrated theories laid out in the email are debunked and explained, as the email author has labored the adding of ages, dates and “where his parents lived”, only to show that those specifics apply only to those BORN OUTSIDE THE U.S. Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961, almost two years after Hawaii became the 50th US State.

Ok. I know many of you are just waiting to comment and tell me, “But what about the time of when he lived in Indonesia?” “But the 14-year rule, doesn’t that still apply to Obama?” Reach deep if you will, but the fact remains that Barack Obama IS qualified to run for President. Plus, do you really think that if he WASN’T qualified, someone would have caught this way before he started running for office? Seriously… think about it.

EMAIL #2: Obama Removes American Flag From Campaign Plane

Here is the text of the email:

The plane that once had an American flag on its tail now sports the Obama “O.” “Change We Can Believe In” and the candidate’s website are splayed across both sides of the fuselage, making this 757 anything but inconspicuous.
This means, of course, that the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, and other countries will see a plane without an American flag — a plane on which the sole symbol is all about one man. Barack: Afghans and Iraqis won’t be voting for you in November. But they will notice that you failed to represent yourself as a proud American citizen while you are abroad. We’ve noticed too.

As a patriotic American citizen, I am embarrassed that a presumptive presidential candidate would fail to display a core symbol of the United States of America.

As a patriotic American citizen, I am deeply concerned that the Democratic party may nominate a candidate who is solely focused on displaying his OWN image and symbols rather than those of his party and his country.

Not only is his plane’s symbolism unpatriotic, it is also narcissistic.

This one is mostly correct, but you must read the details at the following Snopes.com link: Barack Obama’s Campaign Plane.

As the Snopes.com article explains, the plane that Obama was using was chartered from North American Airlines. The flag on the tail of the plane is a company trademark. Obama (like his rival John McCain) customized his plane, adding his campaign logo.

I know some of you reading this and thinking this is just another “example” of how “unpatriotic” Obama is. And while the flag is a symbol of our country, agreeing that Obama should be held to a higher standard, removing it from a plane doesn’t undermine his patriotism or dedication to this country. The above email circulating around is just another red herring. Another avenue of finding fault with him. Anyone can hold up the flag and say they are patriotic, but it doesn’t always mean they are. How many cars do you see with a flag on it, tattered and weather-worn from traveling at 75 mph, ready to have another thread torn off of it? Is that respect? How many people never displayed a flag until after 9/11? Did they suddenly start caring about their country? Patriotism isn’t based on a piece of cloth. It’s what you can do to help this country and protect it. Enough said.

Oh, and there is still a flag there. The photo labeled “Modified Obama campaign version” in the Snopes.com article shows an American Flag on the airplane, as is placed on all American-based aircraft to identify what country it is from.

Stop The Slander

The distorting of facts to support one’s position against a candidate is not new. It’s been going on for decades. The internet just makes it easier for anyone with an email account or a blog to state their case as “the truth”. I’m not here to say Barack Obama is spotless. He plays the political game, like ANY OTHER POLITICIAN has done. But… these types of emails that go around making up shit and distorting the facts are JUST PLAIN WRONG! This is not creative. It simply shows that whoever creates this garbage is only interested in promoting slander. They are no more ethical than their exaggerated claims they make against the candidate they dislike. Do your part by checking the facts first before believing everything that’s sent to your inbox as the truth.

How do you feel about these kinds of emails? For them? Against them? Delete them and never read them? Do you see any against McCain? [I've yet to see one come into my inbox]. Let me know in the comments.