The Votes are in for Onsite Service Rates
Last month, I started a poll to find out what you think a fair price is for onsite computer and network support is. I’d like to thank everybody who replied. Your vote was heard, and I am with you 100%. I think $50 an hour is a fair rate for onsite service in King County, Washington. Here are the results of your vote:
How much do you think is a fair amount to charge for onsite computer repair?
- Barter or Trade for services (8%, 1 Votes)
- $25 a visit (8%, 1 Votes)
- $50 a visit (0%, 0 Votes)
Windows 7: Using the Clear Type Tuner
If you notice that the font on your monitor isn’t exactly smooth or clear and easy to read on your laptop or LCD monitor, you can adjust the clarity of the font by using the Windows Clear Type Tuner.
Run “cttune.exe” (without quote marks) from the Start Menu search box, or go to the Control Panel Display applet, and select Adjust ClearType Text from the left.
(Click for larger image)
Adding the Run Command to the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Start Menu
Windows 7 and Windows Vista do not have the Run command listed in the Start menu. Instead, Microsoft wants you to use the search bar by typing in the name of the program you want to run. For example. to open Microsoft Word, you type the word “word” in the search box, and hit the Enter key; to open a command box, you use the command “cmd”, and so forth.
As an alternative, you could hold down the Windows logo key (if your keyboard has this), and press the R key. This will bring up the run command box.
A Christmas Photo Retouch
Anytime you can get family together is a perfect opportunity for a photograph, even when it’s a company holiday party. But does the picture have to look like it was taken at a company holiday party? No!
A little Photoshop magic, and your impromptu family picture can take on a whole new look. With the picture above, I I really like the family and the tree, but I didn’t like the chair full of personal items, and I didn’t like the man walking through the door in the background. There were a few other minor issues, such as light glare off the young man’s glasses.
Road Trip to California
From time to time, the company I work for will send me out on projects for our clients. Up to now, all the locations I have been sent to have been in the state of Washington. This time however, I was asked to drive down to Oregon to pick up some equipment and take it to southern California.
To me, it sounded like a perfect opportunity to take some pictures, so I happily accepted. One thing I always bring with me on these assignments is my camera kit, a Sony DSLR and a few nice lenses that I got for developing a website for a photographer in Seattle. I’m not a very good photographer, artistically speaking, more functional really. But I do love taking pictures of interesting scenery.
Christmas Recommendation: The Kindle Fire from Amazon
If you are looking for a great gift idea for someone who really enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music, and surfing the web, may I suggest a Kindle Fire from Amazon?
The Kindle Fire is truly an amazing little unit! I was stunned at how brilliant and crisp the display is, and how fast and functional it is. Having never played with a Kindle fire, I easily navigated through its many features and configured it to connect to a secured wireless network without even looking at the documentation. The Kindle Fire is so easy to use; anyone from a child to a great-grandparent can use it.
Amazon MP3 Christmas Music Specials
It’s the Holiday season and Christmas is right around the corner. Yes, that’s right, I said Christmas. In fact, let me just say right here that I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas! How’s that for being politically correct?
I’m sure that everyone who has ever surfed the web, watched TV, or has been alive since 1980 knows what about Amazon.com. We all know they sell books, but did you know that they also sell great music? Oh yes! And even better, you can buy it in MP3 format and without the digital rights restrictions. You can buy it and play it immediately, right now, on your computer, MP3 player, smart phone, or any device that will play MP3′s. I’ve been buying my music from Amazon.com since they started selling music in MP3 format, and I couldn’t be happier a happier customer.
Humor: No Drama Warning Sign
No time or tolerance for other people’s drama? Well, this sign is for you! This print-ready sign will let friends and co-workers know to take their drama somewhere else, or maybe just to leave it at home. This No Drama sign is printable in standard 8 by 10 portrait format.
Click here for a Printable PDF version (Requires Adobe Reader or equivalent)
On a Serious Note:
The workplace is no place for drama, personal or otherwise. Drama creates a hostile work environment and hampers productivity. If drama is fluent in your work environment, check out these resources below. They may provide you and your workmates with a solution to reduce drama in the workplace.
Spectacular Time-lapse view of earth from space
This time-lapse was created from photographs taken from the International Space Station from August to October 2011. As well as providing a very cool HD view of our Earth from space, this video also presents a spectacular rarely seen perspective of the Aurora Borealis.
Shooting locations in order of appearance:
Thank you to all Veterans of America
In the course of the year, I sometimes forget how fortunate I am to live in a country where I have so many freedoms and liberties, where I can work and make a decent wage, get a decent education, and where I am protected from harm from domestic and international terrors. Of course, with all the fighting that the US has been involved in during the past decade, it has not been easy to put aside the fact that all of my freedoms and comforts have come at a great price by veterans past and present. I take a lot for granted as an American.
Amazing Halloween House Display
I have seen a lot of really cool Halloween decorations, but this wins the trophy. I would love to see how this was set up!
I am available for short-term, part-time, or per-diem IT projects.
I am currently looking for short-term or per diem projects in computer or network support rolls, or in graphic, photographic, or web development. I am available after work hours on Monday through Friday, and all day during weekends.
Skill Summary:
Computer and Network
I have extensive experience and skill supporting Windows-based computer systems. My skills include installing and supporting Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 in desktop, portable, and mobile computers systems, and installing and supporting Windows 2003 and 2007 server systems. I am skilled with supporting most hardware and software configurations, and I have an extensive background in business and personal computer environments.
Travelling near the speed of light
Light travels through the vacuum space at 299.792,458 meters per second, or approximately 186,282 miles per second. According to Einstein’s theory of special relativity, this is also the maximum speed that energy or matter can travel in the vacuum of space. If you were in a spaceship traveling near the speed of light you would experience interesting effects as you traveled closer to the speed of light. One effect is called time dilation, where time slows down. Of course, from the perspective of moving near the speed of light, this effect of time would not be obvious until you were no longer moving near the speed of light. Another effect is a Doppler effect, where object moving towards you would have compressed light waves and appear to be blue-shifted, and objects moving away from you would have longer light waves and appear to be red-shifted. another effect of moving at or near the speed of light is that as you move towards and past objects, they become distorted and bend.
Humor: Spoofed Holiday Music
It’s getting around that time of year again. the stores are stocking their Holiday wares, and I expect them to start filling our ears and hearts with Christmas music. I expect Starbucks to start their Holiday specials any time now. I love those pumpkin lattes!
In the Spirit of the Holidays, I like to share a little humor with some of the funniest Holiday Music spoofs. Now, be careful before playing these Holiday tunes at work or around sensitive ears, as they might find these tunes inappropriate or even offensive. I’ve marked these as Not Safe For Work (NSFW). These files are in MP3 format, and should play on any media player or device that plays MP3 files.
Humor: Homemade Pumpkin Pie!
Ever wonder how homemade pumpkin pie is made? Well, it starts with fresh pumpkin…..
Credit: Special thanks to Mindy S. in Redmond, WA. for this great picture!
Seriously though, if you want a really good pumpkin pie, here’s a great recipe!
Pumpkin Pie from Better Homes and Gardens
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare and roll out Pastry for Single-Crust Pie. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the pastry. Trim; crimp edge as desired.
NEW! Computer Services Available!
I am launching my Computer Support Service today!
I am happy to provide professional onsite commercial and residential computer services throughout King County Washington. With over thirteen years of onsite computer support experience, there are not many issues I have not dealt with. My computer support services are available by appointment. If you would like to schedule a service call, please feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail.
Click here for details:
Windows 7: Cannot Pin to Task Bar (Resolved!)
Awhile back I discovered that I could no longer pin programs to my task bar. I am always experimenting with new settings, so I assumed this issue was something I caused, but i couldn’t figure out what I did. Yesterday, I discovered that I was right. The reason I could no longer pin programs to the task bar was because I changed the way shortcuts appeared on my desktop by removing the stupid little arrow from the icon. That is something I have never had a problem doing in Windows XP, so why would this be a problem in Windows 7?
Video: The “Java Life” Rap Music Video
This original rap music video made for JavaOne 2011 celebrates the “Java Life”. Dedicated to the developer homies everywhere who code hard day and night. Think Java programmers meet street Hip Hop.
Things Everyone Should Know About Web Browsers
Web Browsers are among the most frequently used programs in the home or business environments. We use them to access websites, check our web-based e-mail, run applications for work, and so on. Since web browsers are frequently accessing the Internet, they are great targets for hackers who seek to discover and exploit any flaw in the browser that can be used to hijack the browser and spread viruses and malware, or gain access to computers for other purposes. On the other hand, it’s not always the browser that gets exploited; it’s us, the users.
The makings of a vampire
This being October, the month of one of my favorite holidays, I thought I’d share a little Photoshop magic with you. Most everyone pretty much knows what Photoshop is; a mainstream program used by graphic designers to create and manipulate images. I use Photoshop extensively for retouching pictures and creating my own graphics. I also use Photoshop to create a variety of graphics and do photo restorations, but that’s an article for another day.
My Skydiving Adventure
It started out with a co-worker and I deciding to go skydiving, and quickly became a company picnic with ten of us, including the president of Puget Systems, going skydiving. For each of us, it was our first time actually jumping out of an airplane. Albeit, we all jumped in tandem, with instructors strapped to our backs, it was still the most thrilling event I have ever partaken in.
July 13, 2007
Blue Sky Skydiving, Bremerton Washington
We chose Blue Sky Skydiving because of its location and reputation. Bremerton provides an excellent view of the Puget Sound at 13,500 feet. Just 911 feet short of the top of Mount Rainier, the view is breath-taking.
Humor: the Red Binder
There are times when additional support is necessary to get through a grueling day at work. Here’s one suggestion…
A Master Reference binder has been created for all who may need to reference it. Inside this binder you will find ‘solutions’ to everyday problems.
If you are having problems with the photocopier, having difficulty dealing with co-workers, having computer problems…please come and get the red binder and it will help you through your issue. You may refer to the red binder as often as you wish.
Humor: Baby names
A lady pregnant with twins gets into a bad car accident. She wakes up to discover that she is in a hospital. Panicking, she buzzes for the nurse, who comes running to assist her. The nurse tell her that she is going to be OK, and that she had been in a car accident.
The lady, still panicking, demands to know if her babies are OK. the nurse tells her that they are fine, and that she had a boy and a girl. Relieved, the new mother realizes that she hasn’t named her babies yet. The nurse tells her not to worry, her brother came in and named the babies for her. The new mother cried out “My brother? Oh no! He’s an idiot! What did he name my babies?”
Please Support
