New t-shirt - abstention

I have just drunk a bottle of "Fat Bastard" Chardonnay in memory of my brother, Donald Thomas, and a very nice wine it was. Now I am starting on the red wine - also Fat Bastard. Also very nice. I could get used to this. Abstention is boring.

WINDOWS XP is retiring.

MY LINUX TRANSFER IS COMPLETE!!!
My comment is:  Tell someone who gives a shit.  I never used their support for anything and when my computer dies for the third and final time I will just load Linux on it.  It already has Open Office on it and I very seldom use Windows Office 2007 which I bought at cost price from Microsoft in 2007.  At least I can use open office and it just doesn't crash.  It just keeps on going.  No issues. Just love it AND it is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Windows XP is Retiring After 12 years of support, technical assistance for Windows XP will endon April 8, 2014. The end of Windows XP support will help us focus resources on delivering you the best, most current PC experience.

What this means for Windows XP users The end of support means we will no longer deliver software updates. These updates help keep your PC secure and working reliably. Without them, your PC may become a target for harmful viruses, spyware and other malicious software—causing loss of data and hindered performance. While your computer will work, your PC may cause you security and support issues. We'd love to help you avoid that. Upgrade options To make sure your PC is protected and doesn't cause you potential frustration, upgrade to the latest version of Windows. If your PC is older, you may consider browsing a range of new PCs—now more affordable, lightweight and powerful than ever.

Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our Privacy Statement. Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond WA 98052

THE THE THE

It is THE not DA.

When will fools stop writing like 2 year olds the word is THE not DA.

When you write in English use the correct words not baby words as in DA.

I hate this habit of people using SMS code in their writings.  It just points out how stupid they are.

English is an honourable language and if I get an application form filled with misspellings and acronyms I chick it in the trash because it is just not worth reading.  I don'r have the time nor the energy to decifer applicant's stupidity.

SONY CAMERAS and the repairs thereof

Last year I bought a Sony Alpha 330 DSLR camera.

I was delighted with it and even managed to get an adapter from Russia which would allow me to use my old Minolta lenses.

While it took me a bit of time to get used to the various settings I had fun experimenting with the various lenses and filters that I had accumulated over the years for my Minolta manual cameras.

In December I was happily taking photos of lightning with the camera perched on a tripod and running 30 sec exposures to get the maximum amount of lightning recorded.

WONDERFUL!!!!!

I turned my back for a second and the wind blew the camera on tripod over.  The edge of the LCD screen cracked.  DAMN!

Next day I took the camera to my local camera fixit man and he looked at it and said he could not get the part.  SONY would not supply part.

I then emailed SONY South Africa to ask for assistance.  This was their reply:

Kindly be advised that as Sony S.A we do not carry parts and spares therefore you will have to speak to Rectron as they are an authorized service agent for Alpha cameras.

Not quite what I wanted to hear. So I duly contacted Rectron and then because the answer was unfavourable I again contacted Sony with the following:

Last night while taking photos of lightning, my Sony alpha 330, on a tripod was blown over.  The LCD screen has been damaged and I have been told by your call agent to phone Rectron, who I understand are your repair services.  They have informed me that I will have to bring the camera into them and they will then give me an estimate of the cost.  Their time cost of R600 per hour is exorbitant.  I only bought this camera because I was told it was the only camera that could take my old manual Minolta lenses with an adapter.  I have since discovered that this was a false statement made by the salesperson.  Added to this the adapter that was sold to me at the time of purchase was incorrect and did not have a correcting lens so it could only convert my telephoto lenses into macro lenses.  I have since purchased the correct lens adapter from Russia which works perfectly.  Now, if I am to carry on using this camera I will need to buy the LCD screen, which I will fit myself.  Rectron refuses to supply so I would like to ask you at Sony to supply me with the LCD screen.

The answer was:

Kindly be advised that as Sony S.A we do not carry parts and spares therefore you will have to speak to Rectron as they are an authorized service agent for Alpha cameras.

What a load of codswallop.  My reply to them was:

Thank you for the lack of information.  I will either dump the camera at the nearest camera shop OR I will purchase the part on line for R122.57 plus postage and fix it myself.

I find your lack of assistance atrocious and will never purchase another Sony product.

They didn't even bother to reply to me so I will obtain an LCD screen for the amount of $21.99 from Amazon.com!!  South African price: R229.39 plus postage of R39.02!!!

How difficult is it to use a screwdriver which is supplied?  There is even an 8 minute  youtube instruction video.  Granted it is in German but one can follow the video without the sound.

How can Rectron and Sony justify their existence if they are going to charge R600 plus for five minutes work?
The next camera I purchase will be a Canon and I can get an adapter for the Minolta lenses from my Russian source.

I eventually received the part and had it put in by my local camera guy for the sum of R200.  Camera works wonderfully now and I didn't have to drive to Rectron.

WOOLWORTHS, PICK N PAY, CHECKERS, DISCHEM - ALL SHOPS

What is it with shops that they have to stock items at 2 meters above floor level.

In Woolworths they insist on having deep shelves which are packed full, but when the stock from the shelf is removed by customers the next customer cannot see or reach the stock further back from the front of the shelf.

I have photos of their staff standing on packing crates restocking shelves.  My questions is "How the hell are customers supposed to reach the stock without doing the same thing?

Dischem also stocks their shelves too high.

My other beef with all clothing shops is that they insist on putting the big sizes at floor level and the little sizes above eye level.  Now I am not one of the little people and I don't have dainty feet or a small arse.

So when I have to try and find a pair of shoes sized 8 or 9 (English sizes) I have to bend over almost double to retrieve the shoes whereas the little people of 4 ft 11 have to stand on tippy toes to search for their shoes on the top shelf.   I couldn't get anyone to pose for this so I rely on your imagination of a really big fat arse pointing sky wards and tiny person standing on tiptoes to reach their respective shoes.

This image would apply to shirts, underwear, etc. at Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Edgars, Truworths, Milady's, Foschinis, Mr Price, etc.  In fact everywhere!!!!

My biggest issue is that you can never find an assistant to help you at these shops. So I boycott them.  I have written to the management of all these shops and I have yet to receive a satisfactory reply.

How is this for crap packing.  25kg bags of dog food stacked horizontally to shoulder height at Pick n Pay Woodmead.

What happens when one drags the top one off and it falls on one's foot and said foot is broken?  OR worse it falls on some child?

Don't these shops think of safety?  Don't they think that people should be able to reach the products on the top shelf?

When the management were asked how the management always replies "You can ask shop assistant."  Don't make me laugh!!!!!  I have yet to find an assistant to help me retrieve anything on a high shelf.

South African TV programming

If there was more than thirty seconds of programmes worth watching on SABC TV 1, 2, 3  or ETV I would be pleased to pay the wretched TV licence.

Tonight's offering of 40 year old British programme called "Mind your Language" has been shown so often that I think the old VCR tape has stretched beyond its capacity.

"Mind Your language" was quite funny forty years ago but viewers have reached a point where they can chant almost verbatim the dialogue used.

I have made my new LCD screen into a monitor for my computer and removed the CRT tube from my old TV which died and replaced it with a fish tank.  Fish are just more interesting than TV and at least they are pretty and do different things which the programmes on SA TV don't

Found these instructions:

How to Convert an Old TV Into a Fish Tank

Another option would be to hang a paper mobile in the old TV or make a kaleidoscope out of old tin foil and wrapping paper.

OR make a cat or dog bed out of the case.  

Personally, I would love to take it and dump irt on SABC's doorstep in Auckland Park and tell them what they can do with it.

KARDASHIANS AND THE MANDELAS

Living in South Africa reminds me of some awful reality show like the American "Keeping up with the Kardashians"

Who these people are I have absolutely no idea.  I was at a friend's house and she happened to flick the TV onto the programme.  I tried to listen to the whiney voice but could not bear it for more than a few seconds.  I asked my friend to switch to another programme.

I don't want to keep up with them.  I wouldn't want to sink so low.  They remind of trailer trash.

They, like the Mandela family think that money makes up for class.  They trade on their parent's name.

MONEY DOESN'T GIVE YOU CLASS.  If you weren't born with it you can't cultivate it.