Since I started writing for Mr. Bob Martin I’ve prided myself on getting an article to him on time every week. Is this something I owe him? Not really but it is something I said I would do and I held the LiP record for never missing a deadline (UNTIL NOW). But pride go’est before the fall.
In every job I’ve ever had I was there on time every time albeit sometimes a little worst for the wear. In the Navy you have the ambulance driver take you to work before the hospital. When I owned my night-clubs in Puerto Rico if you didn’t open on time you made no money, so that was incentive within its self.
While living in Florida before I went back to sea I applied to ABC Liquor Stores and bars as an entry level employee. The General Manager wasn’t going to hire me because he said that I was way over qualified. I smiled and told him that the reason he might want to reconsider me for the job, was because not once in my life had I ever phoned in sick, and didn’t really know how to do it. Yes he hired me and promoted me twice within six months to assistant manager and then store manager.
As a merchant seaman if you’re late you stand a good chance of watching your ship pass the last buoy as your unemployed ass is standing on the pier paying the taxi driver, plus you are watching your luggage sail away too. Do not expect the US Embassy to care one small whit.
Yes, this was an interwebby failed computer or dongle related incident, but not really the fault of Globe. My puter picked up a malefactor job-a-do and that affected my browsers. That is how Joel, my computer “GUY” had explained it to me.
He came to the house on Saturday (30 Aug) and gave me the tearful news and like the guy on TV in the ill-fitting tan suit; we also had no strategy.
But not all hope was lost and prior to leaving Joel installed SMADAV2014 anti-mal-ware killer that my “Norton” was not very happy about. I’m still off line but I’m Mal-ware free. Oh I’m not totally off line, as I am still receiving stateside TV that hadn’t finished downloading. I can’t get on line but the damn machine will still download, that will take a few beers to ponder.
BTW they’re Episodes 1-13 House of Cards season two; I finished watching season one last week and was hooked.
But now I’m talking about TV: If someone was to say to me; “I don’t pick my nose.” I would think; “That’s an odd thing to tell me, I wonder if they’re very proud of that?
I feel the same way about someone who states; “I never watch television.” And I’ll wonder why would they even think I care? But the classic line is; “As a matter of fact I don’t even own a TV set.” I question; “Is that because they find TV basically evil, or the cost is prohibitive?” BTW I do watch some TV as well as reading, enjoying a beer with friends and a few days ago, going on line.
Saturday night after my “Puter Guy” left with no resolution to my wilderness problem my smart phone lit up with a text from Joel saying that Windows 8 could be the answer. As I had lost or misplaced my disc for Windows 7 and he felt that that was where the problem was. He said that during the week he would come up to the mountain and install it. (I’m starting this tale of woe on Sunday 31 Aug.) And yes Sir Bob the title of the article for this week was going to be “The Wedding” but it will be sent after this one.
My daughter explained that Joel was also going to upgrade my “My Phone” which had cost me PNP 3,500.00, with some shady skullduggery to the equivalent of an expensive Samsung 5 smart phone and then I can have better camera pixel quality too. Please don’t ask me how any of this works, but as I said before; “The Pinoy can do anything.”
I’ll finish this during the week. But as for now I’m just a lone voice crying out from the wilderness not connected to anything.
I’ll try going outside and showing pictures of what I had to eat for supper, to total strangers and see what they will tell me.
”OH! Face Book where for art thou?”
Friday morning, I’ve been on the interwebby but how I just don’t understand. I ran my cleaner, then rebooted the machine and had one hour of very slow internet. Then the phone lit up with a text from “Puter Guy” Joel, informing Kuya Paul that he won’t be on the mountain until next week. Well ain’t that a fine kettle of fish. (What the hell does that really mean?)
But I understand that he has a life besides fixing my Puter and so I’ll just wait. I was smart enough to send my photos to Sir Bob on Wednesday as I was online and not sure of how long I’d be there. If I can get on line today for a while I’ll send this article also. “Makin’ hay while the sun shines”. (Why to those dumb expressions keep popping into my head?) Alrighty then, I can’t get on line so I’ll try again on Saturday or later today.
In summation I’ll make no wild promises that this incident will never happen again, after all the Globe Dongle still dangles out my window, but I have a couple of backup articles that in the advent that I’m called up by a higher power, that my daughter will submit them for me, that way at least two weeks will pass before anyone knows that I have passed. I’ll be riding shotgun on the San Miguel truck in the sky before the devil knows I’m dead. (It’s an Irish thing)
Hope things work out for you, Paul!
I am one of those that watches very little television if you count it as regular television programming. I have little interest in reality shows (which seems to be an ever-increasing percentage of what is on. I certain do watch television, the device, though. More likely it is on Netflix. Yes, you have to wait for programs and for movies, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for me.
Heh, I watch TV on my computer. No TV set at all where I’m living at the moment, although my house in the Philippines usually has three (I think a brother-in-law begged and received a small one).
RT:
It’s good to hear from an honest man about TV’s the only problem I have with them is if one spends their day in front of it.
Tom; N
You are watching it the right way, which seems to be your way and I agree with you.
And like you I can’t abide Reality TV, and I wonder when I read the credits why there are always writers listed?
Well, now, that’s a fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into… Sorry, Paul.
As it usually is with Windows, it could be anything causing you grief. When you get it all sorted out, take some time to make a proper backup of the operating system for the next time it starts refusing to play nicely. As for me, I’m on Windows 8 now and when it goes, it’s off to Linux land for me.
RT
After Joel the Puter Guy left I found my disc for Windows seven, one of the errors Joel found was that it would nor back-up and that seemed to be a problem. I punch the keys and pay my daughters friend to Joel to keep me on line. So we’ll see about Windows 8 this week when he comes back. I get about an hour online time every morning as it is now.
Never late or absent is one thing a man learns fast in the Navy. Most will always be at least an our early in case some evil Gremlin sabotages his mode of transportation and Plan B has to be implemented. Article in advance sounds like a solid plan B to me! loss of that never late rep you have always had is indeed a bitter pill to swallow but but at least your aren’t facing mast for it and captain Bob is a very understanding Skipper.. As always I enjoy reading about your adventures / misadventures here in the Philippines as most of us have experienced the same problems and had to find our own solutions to continue down the highway of Loving Philippine Life. BTW have got an Now old Suzuki story much like your now departed Honda. Burst Radiator hose.
over heating, Head gasket ect. Out of action for almost a month but finally as good as new now thanks to my own Pinoy Mechanic. No baling wire or duct tape was used the the making of this story >
Joe;
Four hours on the grinder in San Diego boot camp with my trusty leaded barrelled M-1 weapon held over my head. (Of course the barrel was leaded do you think they’d trust a sailor with a working piece?) We were trusted with a 16 inch gun, but not small arms.
As for your car, I have pointed out that the Pinoy can fix about anything, and fix it well and properly, I’m glad that worked out for you.
Living here has shown me that if you are on time for anything you’ll be standing there by yourself. (LOL) But I still have never phoned in sick, but my dog did once eat my homework.
First, Scott reappears. Now you show up. All in all, a very good weekend!
I did check you all’s FB pages for any word but anything past that, I’d feel like a stalker. Sure glad you two are back, though.
Mike;
Scott was off line for quite a bit, but it seems his interwebby troubles are ending (For awhile) as mine are beginning again. But he’s back as a FB regular now. My internet has gone off twice so far today, so I’m typing fast until the next outage.It is good to see Scott back…
Thanks guys! It is good to be back too.
Scott;
Love your new Trike.
Paul,
I think you might be better off staying with Windows 7. Windows 8 can be fustrating. I’ve had Norton in the past, but I have found they don’t do as good a job as alot of the free antivirus software. I have Malwarebytes which does a good job of keeping my laptop clean and its free. We were worried about you lastweek when there was no article.
Randy AKA Papaduck;
Oh there was an article last week; I just never got to post it. (LOL) But since I’ve found (Let’s be honest Paul, Mayang found It.) my Windows 7 disc, I more than likely won’t install Windows 8 as I have no desire to learn a new program. I was as happy as a clam with Windows 95.
If you think Norton is not free then you just don’t know my Puter Guy Joel. All programs are free as far as he sees it. (LOL)
Im using Malwarebytes Also Jet clean is a wonderfull little program and its free.Betterprivacy to rid my windows7 of LSO’s.LSO’s are the new hightec electronic tracking cookies.Bit Defender is a good program also.Keeping a clean machine is important.
George;
So I’m learning from everyone to keep my machine clean, I’m going to fire the maid as she’s not helping at all. (LOL) I was just kicked off line an hour ago and it just let me back on.
Love your wit Paul! not to worry about about demising! Heaven already has too many good souls and the Devil doesn’t want you! Hes afraid you’ll take his job, hahaha! same goes for ME! So I Guess YOU’ll be stuck in the Fils and eventually me also! What’s the diff between Hell and the Philippines anyway? SAME HEAT, lmao!
Heinz:
The difference between hell and the RP; Hell doesn’t start Christmas in September. (Are we allowed to say Christmas?)
The RP may get hot but hell doesn’t have a rainy season. (LOL)
I believe the RP does have better internet service most of the time.
Should I go on??? (LOL)
so, tell me; how do you watch American T.V.?
Dennis;
On the satellites TV and cable systems here in the RP, a very large percentage is American TV. On the internet you can stream or download American TV. Also if you like other western countries TV programming, that is here also.
Through Bittorrent you can download virtually any show on American TV. You can generally download it within 15 minutes or so after it airs on American TV.
Bob:
Bittorrent, I’m going to try that!!!
Hi Paul,
I re-read your article several times to try and figure out what happened to your internet. All I can at least try to understand is that your PC got contaminated with something or otherwise refused to function for you. It seems as the number associated with these windows programs increases ( windows 7 , windows 8, windows 8.1 ) so do the number of problems in using it. You are fortunate to have a computer ” guy ” to figure it all out for you and keep you online. Good luck getting the rest of it back into full service. I thought maybe I had a problem with my internet when I couldn’t find your article last week. I am glad that you are OK and it seems nothing that a San Mig or few will assist in overriding the aggro.
Bob New York;
Without young Joel I’d be lost with “NO” voice in the wilderness. (LOL) It was odd to miss a deadline, and I didn’t like it. I felt like Mr. Monk.
I use a VPN and stream all my tv from the BBC.
John J;
I enjoy BBC TV, it has some great programming.
Hey Paul… Me and Flor just finished season 2 of HOC… If you enjoyed season 1, buckle up my friend.. You are in for a wilder ride this season…. Keep me a stool dusted off at Sittin’ Bulls:)
Hi Billy and Flor.
I’ll buy the damn stool from Ron, just hurry back, stop in Colorado and bring Loren and Mercy.. I already have downloaded House of Cards season two and am waiting for a few rainy days.
haha…. just keep an open one for us….. Have an appt with consular outreach in Jacksonville this week to get Flors passport renew/name change… After that is in hand, looking hard at February….. Want the pope to be long gone before landing in Manila:):) Already have a bottle of Sailor Jerry SR with your name on it next to the luggage…. Keep your ‘puter going so we can keep you current with the plans:)
Billy;
Back in the 90’s I flew into Manila 2 hours after Pope John Paul landed and 8 hours later I got on the expressway..Bless him!!!
Tommy is going to sea less so he might be here then.
Yea, that is the exact “blessing” I am trying to avoid……. We would love to see Tommy and his wife also if it can work for all of us….. We are planning to be there for the better part of Feb, but we have a little room to maneuver on arrival dates….. If you can find out his schedule, e-mail me and we will see if we can make it work:)
Billy;
Tommy was just here for 6 months, he flew back to Florida (Fort Lauderdale) to update his seaman papers and then fly North to see his lids and grandchildren in Casper Wyoming. He is up in the air about taking a new ship as he only has to sail 3 months a year to remain vested.
So we’ll see.
You mean people still use Windows, on PCs Paul??? Get a Mac!!! I’m off to watch TV now,,,,
John;
A Big Mac is the closest I’ll ever come to doing that, it’s the secret sauce that I like. Enjoy the show!!!
I know that Paul. So don’t come crying here about your viruses! Hehe!
John;
There is nothing better than to log on to LiP with a nice glass of whine.
I’l drink to that Paul!
John
I’ll drink to it all.
OK, I understood the article, but a good many of the comments went over my head. At any rate, welcome back to the internet! Good to see your wit in print again.
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
I’m with you about the comments, some are like scud rockets to me, a lot like Face Book comments where I wonder what did they really read? But I’m somewhat back, I let the computer kick me off line and then I go and do something else. Not really that bad a system.