Monthly Archives: September 2012

Challenges installing Ubuntu

 in Traveling with Technology

Adventures testing my NetBook for Ubuntu — then installing and using it. Remember, I am a Mac user. A power Mac user who started on DOS, but prefers ease and efficiency. The NetBook: Compaq Mini with Intel Atom processor. Similar to the HP 500 that is listed as officially compatible. (This gave me hope. There are online boards full of compatibility posts but way too many for me to sift through. Plus, only the latest version matters.) This is my documentation of my foray into Ubuntu on a friend’s NetBook.

New year 5773

 in Deb in El Salvador / Deb's Travels / Sight-seeing

My LA Mac friend Elaine just sent me wishes for a good 5773. My reply: And as I sit on a roadside patio in upscale Escalon, San Salvador fully loving the music of 4 men, a bass and marimba in the fresh rain-washed air taking in the view of the nearby volcano before I head to synagogue here, I wish you the same. I am so loving this weekend!

Important tip for Skype using travelers

 in Traveling with Technology

A highly savvy Mac/computer consultant recently reported that her Skype account was suspended when Skype determined that it was probably hacked. Someone had gained access and was making calls to Asia. The great news: 1) Skype monitors and was suspicious, suspending the account 2) her damages, her financial loss, was limited to $11 3) via chat with Skype customer service she was able to get it back up and running. Why her Skype loss was limited to $11. Thanks for that minimum loss go to Allison Sheridan, the fantastic woman of Nosillacast podcast — and I now share that thanks here and I have a feeling many of you will join me in thanking Allison. A while back Allison’s Skype account hacked and she lost a few hundred dollars! Unfortunately, Allison had a DEFAULT SETTING ON — having Skype automatically reload her account via her payment method when the balance […]

Oh language…

 in Deb's Travels

As I have traveled I have often been asked to clarify American phrases or define words. Conversely, I was taken aback when a woman told me of a relationship with a man and said “he molested me.” I had to check that out, had to get used to people saying things like that and mothers telling children to stop molesting each other.  These people are using the word perfectly as it means: “pester or harass (someone), typically in an aggressive or persistent manner” but because Americans use the word to mean “assault or abuse” we have dropped that everyday use of the word and molest carries strong connotations. So anyway, today I was looking up annoyed, angry, and mad to see how I can explain them to someone and I was struck by the cyclical definitions.  Per the New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd edition, 2005 by Oxford University Press, Inc. annoy |əˈnoi| verb [ trans. ] (often be annoyed) irritate […]

Feeling secure with Zagg skin & InvisibleSHIELD

 in Traveling with Technology

On August 13, after months of lamenting my cracked screen iPhone, I posted  12 Reasons I wish I had invisibleSHIELD on my iPhone. As August ended, a Salvadorian friend visited the states and brought me:  invisibleSHIELD – a clear coating for my iPhone’s screen  ZaggSkin– a nicely designed coating for my iPhone’s body invisibleSHIELD – a clear coating for my iPad’s screen The invisibleSHIELD is a “scratch-proof patented film delivers military grade invisibleSHIELD protection.” I love that it is on my screen now. When this stuff first came out I watched devices get tossed around in plastic bags full of keys and nails and come out without a scratch. I am secure now in knowing that I can put my phone into a pocket or pouch along with stuff and that it will be OK. (Of course, allowing a key or coin land inside a devices connection port is not good.) I also […]

All The Places You Will Go, by Dr Seuss

 in Mindset / Misc

All The Places You Will Go – one of my favorite books of all time. This book isn’t just a kid’s story with morals. It’s a fully inspirational and wise book, full of words to live by. Every kid should know this book. Every teen and adult should re-read it once in a while. So, here are the words — as an inspiration… to all those who have not traveled yet, or who are feeling stuck to you travelers out there, because I’m sure this will ring true and make you smile and keep you moving Have a read. And maybe buy the book or the Audible version (at Amazon if that’s your thing). If there’s a kid in your life, inspire him/her, and share it! Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr Seuss Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You have brains […]

A traveler’s language challenges

 in Central America / Deb in El Salvador / Deb's Travels / Travel Tips

Tonight’s plan was for me and two friends to hear a woman from Argentina perform at the bar in the Crowne Plaza two short blocks from where I am staying. I’d walked over there this afternoon to learn the times and even find out that her performance coincided with the last half hour of happy hour so we’d enjoy two-for-one draft beer in the warm evening’s air. I was happy that I’d gone over there and inquired in Spanish, gotten the information, and relayed it to my two local friends. However, we arrived to find she is not performing tonight. One of my friends’ response to me: “So your Spanish is not so good.” (Not meant in a bad way.) Really, I didn’t understand what I’d done wrong. I am certainly not fluent in Spanish. I lack many, many words. But I knew how to ask about a female singer […]

Considering Ubuntu & a netbook for travel

 in Traveling with Technology

Here’s something different in my life… I have actually just called ASUS computers for advice on their models. I am actually considering traveling with a non-Apple netbook. I know this will be a shock to many. It is to me. I won’t be running Windows though. I’d be using Ubuntu, open source, and running the apps of creative open source programmers. I would be exploring this as a lower cost option to provide true computing power and more flexibility than the iPad or an Android-based tablet provides. Not having my Apple and my Adobe software will be hard, but this is a growing exercise, in part for Computer Talk Radio. [facebook page] I have been looking into photo and web design apps in this arena. This will be difficult for me, but apparently this trip was meant to be a wild tech growth experience for me. Unfortunately, ASUS did not […]

Fabulous Fillet at Ruth’s Chris San Salvador

 in Central America / El Salvador / Food / Food in El Salvador

Tonight  my two friends and I weren’t terribly hungry but we wanted a good meal. My friend Frida hadn’t had the opportunity to try the newly-opened Ruth’s Chris San Salvador yet, so it was time. She welcomed me into her life so warmly and has done so much for me that I wanted to take her out before I have to move on (whenever that turns out to be). It’s late but the meal was so good that I have to write about it while the tastes are fresh on my tastebuds and in my memory. A perfect steak dinner at Ruth’s Chris San Salvador None of us were very hungry so it’s great that Ruth’s Chris gladly served French Style — cutting our thick, juicy, perfectly seasoned, sizzling steak by our table, serving a piece to each of us on our own very hot plate. There are several cuts of steak […]

To add a FB photo album via iPad

 in Traveling with Technology

As it stands today, Sept 2, 2012, the Facebook iPad app is very poorly done and is an exercise in non efficiency. I marvel at the failures of the Facebook programmers, given that they came of age in the days of the Macintosh. Want to add a new Facebook photo album via your iPad? Here is what I found necessary. First, you must go to the website to create the album. Use a browser. No UI to do this in the app. Then you have to Cancel because you cannot add photos from the FB page on iPad. Then you have to quit the FB app if it is running on your iPad. Then go to the FB app and find the album, and then you have to add the photos ONE photo at a time. What should take a few minutes becomes an hour of ordeal if you have […]