Autism: Brainwaves ‘show risk from age of six months’

As a parent of a son with Autism, I found this BBC story very interesting. Hope you do too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16740758

Free anti-virus

Who uses free or freeware antivirus software, and which do you use.

For many years I have used AVG in it’s many free versions. I have never used a paid service, and have never felt the need to do so. Yesterday, I foolishly clicked a link on Facebook. I was trying to hide the post (or so I say) but hit the link instead. Almost immediately, AVG warned me of the threat, and dealt with it. As a precaution, I decided to do a full scan. Lo and behold, a trojan and a number of variations were found. These, unusually found in the uninstall files. As expected AVG dealt with the problem. A quick Google told me a little about the trojan, but also alerted me to the fact that AVG was reporting the infections, but that they were false positives.  I then had problems removing the so called ‘infections’, but AVG would not let me access them. The only way round was to disable AVG, restore the ‘infected’ files, unistall the software and download the latest versions. This done, I restarted AVG, only to be told that the files we still infected. Arghhhhhhhh.

I then decided that AVG was the problem, and it had to go.

I am now using Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), and was just interested what others use.
(btw  MSE did not find any of the trojans that AVG found – is this a worry?)

How was it for you ??

As I understand it, last week was supposed to be the most miserable week of the year! Was yours? Mine certainly wasn’t. Where do these experts get these ideas from. For me, the most miserable week was the three days between Boxing Day and the 30th of December. It seemed to be three days of colleagues moaning about being at work for three days because ‘there’s nothing to do’. Then they started again the first full week back, moaning that ‘there’s too much to do’.

I think Mrs H has been ripped off. Last year she bought herself a cycle. It is one of those sit-up-and-beg’ type of cycles, with a basket on the front. Not what I would buy, but it is what she wanted. It is like this one but a darker red. Well after the first couple of trips out, she got the idea that she would like to know how far she had cycled. I said I would have a look online for a cycle computer, knowing that I could get one locally for about £12.00. However, she decided to go back to the shop she bought the bike from and ask them. They sold he one that cost, in the sale, £39.99!! Well when she showed me, I immediately thought that it was more than she needed. It had been reduced from £49.99, which made me wonder if it was because they could not sell it. Anyway, I opened the package and took out the parts, found the instructions…in all 26 languages. Identified the ones nearest to English, or should I say Engrish, and began to study them. After about ten minutes of trying to understand some of the more bizarre set-up instructions, I gave up and put it all back in the package. This was not what Mrs K needed. One of the instructions was this:

1) position the cycle so that the front tyre valve is at the bottom of the wheel
2) mark in white chalk (yes that specific) on the road, the position of the valve
3) slowly move the cycle in a forward direction until the valve has made a single rotation
4) mark in white chalk (again) the new valve position
5) measure the distance between the two chalk marks

This will be the size of your wheel. Have they never heard PIxR squared.

After Christmas back, we took the thing back. Mrs H had also bought a wing mirror for the bike. When we tried to explain that it was more than she needed, the owner pointed out that it was the best in the shop, and that we did not need to use all the features. We also complained that the mirror seemed to have some part missing, to which the owner pointed out, that it was only a basic mirror and we should not expect much. I have to ask myself his motives here. A piece of equipment that is a luxury, he sells the best (most expensive) item. For something that is a safety feature, she gets the basic model. We came home without changing anything. He convinced Mrs H, that she had got what she needed. I was saying nothing. It was her decision. I would have asked for a refund.

So today, I made an attempt to fit the cycle computer. All the parts seemed to be in order, and once I had deciphered the instructions again, I began. Everything was okay, until I tried to fit the actual computer. It would not fit. You see, it is sort of wireless. In fact it is infrared. So that means the computer needs to be in direct line with the sensor on the wheel. As the cycle has a basket, this would not be possible with out removing the basket, which defeats one of the reasons she bought the bike. Mrs H will be going back to the shop once more. This time for a refund.

On a different note, I may be creating a website to hold my writing. It is not definite yet, as at the moment my WordPress blog seems to be working out. We shall see. Don’t forget to take a look at the two that are there now, and make any comments.

Short story ….

I’ve uploaded my second attempt at writing. It’s another short (short) story. It’s based in a Post Office a few minutes before closing time, and is called Last Encounter. I would welcome your comments, good or bad.

Will it do any good ??????

So Wikipedia is having a ‘blackout’ in protest at the SOPA/PIPA. Will it make any difference ? Well I don’t really think so. Not here in Britain anyway. Two people have mentioned it in the office this morning. One thinks it is about ‘getting rid of internet porn’ and the other person thought it was because ‘Wikipedia is having money problems’. There was a brief mention on the BBC news programme at 08:00am, but nobody seems to have much of a clue really.

Does anyone really believe, that the governments, have no control over the internet ??? I only have to offend a public figure on Twitter or post an inflamatory status on Facebook to have the Police knocking on my door. No, in my opinion (and possibly others too) the  internet content is already monitored by ‘the authorities’ all over the world.

I wish Wikipedia, and the others that are supporting opposition to this type censorship, all the best luck in the world. However, at the end of the day government, whether in the UK or the US, will not change their policies, just because they may be unpopular.

Second attempt is on it’s way …..

After much thought, I have decided to have another go at writing a short story. This time, I not going to be so conceited as to enter it into a competition. No, this time it is just going to be published on this blog. So what is it about. Well, I think it is a comedy and it takes place in an English Post Office, during the last 20 minutes at the end of a working day. There is just under 1000 words, and I have already done the first rewrite. I gave it to S**** to read, and he did not pick up on one of the minor characters. I have had to rework that character a little more, and hopefully, he will this time.

I just need to pluck up courage to post it on here, when I feel that I have done enough.

Cold !!!!!

I’ve given up…the heating is on. I don’t usually put it on during the day, but I have succumb this once. It’s been really cold over the past two days. The ground frost never cleared at all yesterday, and it was quite eerie driving, early this morning, through the frost laden mist. Still hasn’t cleared yet. Just been out (14:30) and took a couple of photos in the fields. Should have gone first thing when I got back.

Talking of eerie, it was very strange picking S**** up last night. It was his friends birthday yesterday, and S**** had been invited to do what is colloquially called ‘The Garforth Gallon’. Basically, a pub crawl, where you have a pint of beer/ale/lager in each of eight pubs in the town of Garforth. For those who may not know, a ‘pub crawl’ is an expression used when you visit a number of public houses in one session. Anyway, he went out around 1pm, and was out all day and evening. I went to pick him up at around 10:30pm. It is not far, only about 10 minutes from home, but the motorway (M1) was quite spooky and quiet. I have not driven in that direction, at that time of night before, so it was an experience. When I got to Garforth though, it was very different ….busy, noisy even rowdy, with a police presence, larger than I’ve seen outside Leeds City centre. The police presence may have had something to do with the alleged murder that had taken place in the afternoon http://preview.tinyurl.com/7kj7u7a. Still he had had a good time, was able to get up for work this morning.

I have just finished reading ‘Little 15′ by Stephanie Saye and did a review on Amazon (UK) you can find it here http://amzn.to/xiNTLX. I very much enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to anyone. It is the only book, I have actually bought for the Kindle, and it was well worth it.

A bit late but …Happy New Year

It’s been only been a week since I last posted, so not much has happened. New Years Eve came and went without much fuss (must be getting old). Eldest was out locally, and got in about five am. He wasn’t working so that was okay. He is now taking my car to get to work, when I’m not using it of course. Mrs H is working and youngest is on respite, so that means I’m sat at home, on my own.

Work is now getting back to normal, although it took some time to get the backlog processed. The admin staff, will ‘reap’ the benefit, if I can call it that, next week when the letters start arriving. They were already moaning last week about ‘too much work’ !! I’m not going start that rant again !! I give up with them.

Mrs H got her iPad 2 last week. She seems pleased with it. I don’t like it, but then again, I don’t like Apple computers. I got her a cover, which is okay I think. I also got one of those those screen protectors. You know the type. Clear plastic sheet that covers the screen. Well it didn’t work !! At first, I could not get it to line up properly, then when that was sorted, it was covered in air bubbles, which try as I might, could not get rid of. So that went in the bin. If she uses an ‘anti-static’ cloth, it should be fine.

This year, I am definitely going to do some proper writing. After being inspired by persons/people in my social network (you know who you are) I think I should give it a go. I just need a subject and a writing plan or timetable. I feel the only way to do this is to set aside time on a regular basis, so that is what I hope to do.

…….after Christmas

So today is the first day back after the Christmas break. Including the weekend, we, at the office, have had 4 days off. What would be the first thing you would think the staff would ask ???? I don’t suppose you would guess at “What time can we finish ??” Well that was what they were asking !!! The dissapointment showed no bounds, when they were told that it would be 5 o’clock. A lot of coughing and spluttering as they groped for the words “But…but….it’s Christmas !!!!” Nope, that was why you were off, with pay for the past two days. Today is Wednesday, the only connection with the festive season, is that it is 3 days after Christmas Day. They are all looking to go home early on Friday too,”…cos it’s New Years Eve Eve”

You see, what these people forget, is that they are ‘public servants’. People, paid by the public to provide a service. They seem to think, that ‘someone’ owes them the job, and the public should be grateful that they are there. Well this time next year, some of them may not be there ! The way this country is going, there will be no public sector, and the job they are doing will be with a private company. That will be a much needed wake up call.

Here endeth my Christmas message.

Having a go …….

I’ve decided to have a go at ‘proper writing’. Well a short (very short) story anyway. I spotted a competition, in the Wetherby News, to write a short ghost story for the Friends of Harrogate Library. I mulled over it for a week or two, then decided I had nothing to lose, and so, inspired by a fellow WordPress blogger (Sue Healy) I had a go. The competition closes on the 5th November, so I hope to hear something soon after. Fingers crossed it is not all bad.

Remember I mention a so called email course I was doing. Turned out not to be as good as I thought. There should have been 18 parts to the course, however parts 10 through to 15 did not get emailed. I emailed them back and asked to re-send the missing parts, and left a message on their message board, but to no avail. I still have 6 parts missing, so a bit of a disappointment.

Apparently, the youngest escaped from his class again !! This time he was just in the school grounds, but again, no message from school !!! They either think, that it is not worth worrying about and that he was quite safe, or there is some other reason, which is even more worrying. I think Mrs H, may have to talk to the Head or Deputy Head.