Subj : Todays Blooper To : Daryl Stout From : Barry Martin Date : Wed Oct 14 2020 10:21:00 Hi Daryl! BM> So thinking maybe SyncTerm might be only capable of handling (say) VGA BM> resolutions and you're throwing HD at it. WAG, but may give a clue. DS> There is a glitch in the program, but I can't seem to fix it DS> with my settings. That's the glitch!! Might be hard-coded. I remember in my early BBS days there were some programmes which refused to run if configured on any drive but C:. At the time I was trying to be organized and separate utilities and functions by hard drive - so much for that idea! BM> "But I never saw that!" "Is that what that meant??" DS> I set off a firestorm with that, but my defense was "I'm NOT DS> the Treasurer". The President of the organization has said "if DS> they send stuff to you, send them to me, and I'll deal with the DS> guilty party". BM> "But you were nice enough to do it before! Why didn't BM> you tell me then! Now you're being such a ." DS> Sounds like those "twit excuses" on a BBS. Just a bit! ...If enough people were doing it wrong then something being misinterpreted, overlooked, or easier to do the one way. And yes, people do get tired of repeating things, correcting others' mistakes, and the like. When I was working in College Admissions I created a phamplet and the joke working title was "1001 Things We Get Sick and Tired of Saying Over and Over Again". Mostly a chat-style of the prerequistes but also a section on the community because at the time (the guys who created Google Maps probably were in diapers) some thought we had to fight off the Indians! Seriously!! Well I suppose when one looks at a paper map they do see the cities of Fort Madison and Fort Dodge, and Buffalo Bill over in LeCalire (a few miles from here).... Surprised we didn't get questions about if we had electricity! BM> Hopefully the e-mails are good news. I'm thinking if they wanted to BM> get rid of you or otherwise do a major alteration there would have been BM> a phone call/video meeting followed up by the e-mail. DS> I deleted most of them...but as noted, the President of the DS> organization said "send the bad ones to him now". With my luck, DS> I'll get a bunch of those, and I'll tell him "be careful what you DS> ask for". Some times one has to prove the problem one is complaining about. "Oh certainly thirty people can't be sending you their membership checks!" "Oh yeah?! " BM> Sometimes the 'polite noise' is ignored until it becomes "oh you meant BM> it!". DS> Well, if they can't make the check out right, with: DS> 1) Making it to me instead of the organization DS> 2) Putting a different amount on both lines DS> 3) Not signing the check DS> It's a waste of time, energy, postage, and money. While all are wrong #1 is the 'stupid people' part. They're sending the check to the wrong place. Items two and three could happen with any payment, not just to the square dance club. Still a nuisance, just not an exclusion. ...And now that the President is involved he should see there are problems and maybe come up with a better way. ...Sometimes ya jus' can't fix stupod! BM> OTOH if you can get rid of most of the unnecessary expenses that would BM> be as good if not better than being reimbursed. DS> We are greatly reducing the size of the print edition, starting DS> in January. I sent a "work copy" of that to the organization DS> President and Treasurer, but told them "actual work won't start DS> on it until after Thanksgiving". However, they can get an idea DS> what the new print format will look like. Basically, by moving DS> several items, it cut the document in half. I also told them "I DS> don't want to just drop the data, but alert folks that "this data DS> is going to the websites". Mixed emotions on that one: if need to go to the web why bother with a print edition. OTOH some people don't have web access (no computer) and the 'see the website' is an annoying tease. Even for some people when do have access: when had the paper newspaper they started to have news stories ending mid-story and 'see www.'. IMO OK when used for a 'to find up-to-the-minute information go to here' but when used because they ran out of space, uh, no. Back to the data being moved to the website, some probably should not. Thinking of examples like birthdays and anniverssaries -- the old folks without web access probably would appreciate the paper edition listing and send nastygrams about it being dropped. (Unfortunately those nastygrams would be sent to the Treasurer instead of you!!!!) BM> That's part of the problem when most of the stuff on the web is BM> available at no charge. DS> True...plus, the cost of postage and printing has caused so DS> many publications to go online only, or shutdown altogether. Yes, it is expensive, and people don't want to or can't afford to pay. Others before you are sort of at fault: people are now expecting free. Even very low cost can be an off-put. BM> As long as you have the backing of the President and Treasurer you're BM> fine. If they have instructed you to shred the errant checks then BM> shred them. If they instructed to save and hand them over next time BM> you see one or the other then that's the procedure. DS> Now, I just send them to the President, and let him deal with DS> them. While I'm sure some wanted me fired, no one else wants to DS> do the work. So, they are stuck with me. The good news is now someone else deals with the problem. Well, at least the end portion. You still have to receive and send on the errant mail but hopefully will lessen, and hopefully you are being paid / re-imbursed for the forwarding costs. BM> The other thing is if the President designed the form then it's his or BM> hers: that level is above yours. Reminds me of an incident at the BM> store where a customer wanted a discount for trivial thing. Maybe like BM> a smudge and the item should have been washed before wearing anyway. DS> Well, I left his name on the new form...so he gets to deal with DS> the ID 10 T error prone folks. :P Almost sounds like the President is receiving the payments instead of the Treasurer. ...As long as you don't have to deal with the checks. BM> Well, in one way they are being up-front as to why the increased cost. DS> While Robert Heinlein was right (TANSTAFFL), some of the extra DS> charges are ridiculous. What warms my heart though, is seeing DS> customers leave a huge tip for hard working employees. I will leave a larger tip if warranted. Normally I tip on the generous side of the normal but if really good I will reward. Won't deduct from the server if the kitchen made the 'bad service' error: remember once went out to dinner and the Texas Toast was only toasted on one side. Didn't even bother to say anything to the server. Now if the potatoes had been cold that would be different, but stil la Kitchen problem and not something the server did. BM> Wonder if taking breaks is possible? Trouble is, drive, use drive- BM> through because of COIVID-19 and so can't get out of the car and stand BM> up while walking in and standing at the counter.... DS> At least all the major work on the car is done until next DS> spring. But, the way folks drive around here, it's too stressful DS> for me to handle. My 'rule' is they can drive around me. I still am driving properly: speed limit, on the right so they can pass me (unless I am going to be making a left-hand turn shortly). Should be 'share the road and be considerate'. BM> Yes, said that before. I can't disagree; $200 isn't a pocket-change BM> amount. OTOH figure the fee into your vacation budget. DS> I doubt I'll ever go outside Pulaski County again. If only you could get that ankle braclet off! BM> I'm thinking more temporarily on hold. You're not the only customer BM> with concerns, so the transportation industry is either going to have BM> to modify or loose customers. DS> Amtrak has moved all its long distance trains to tri-weekly, DS> and both the airlines and bus companies are trying to get folks DS> to ride. But, many are "too paranoid" to do so. And I'll admit to being one o fthe 'too paranoid' though substituting that term with something like not liking the situation. I can do the social distancing, etc., but being in a flying tube or rolling box (plane, train/bus) the build up of germs is more than I want to deal with for the reasoning I have to travel. BM> Yes, some people 'just can't'. The good news is now restaurants are BM> more concerned with the dietary restrictions. Used to be eat it or BM> don't, we pretty much don't care. Now all sorts of accomodations and BM> warnings -- thinking of those menus with a fire or chili icon to warn BM> of a meal which is potentially hot and spicy. DS> Or for them being vegan, glueten free, etc. Yes, those too. A vegan would probably not go to steakhouse, though with a group might 'have' to. I'm thinking 'with friends' then the friends should not go there unless a decent set of vegan options was available. If with business associates they probably wouldn't know of the preference. DS> the vet. Of course, if your pet can spell "vet", or realize when DS> you've pulled up to the place, then all bets are off. :P BM> It is amazing how they know! DS> Isn't it though?? And my second dog loved going for car rides but never looked out: just like curling up on the passenger seat or next to me. Thought at first she didn't know or wasn't allowed to (she was adopted and little was known about the original owner except probably abused) so propped her up a few times to let her know there was an outside world and it was OK to look -- got the reaction "that's nice" so after a few times just let her be. ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® .... "You're like a snowball gathering steam." --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .