Tonight, the boy and I were formally invested in the 1st North Grenville Kemptville Scout Troop (see the links page for more info on this awesome Group). We were officially, aka paperwork, members already. However, tonight they performed their swim up, Beaver Scouts moving up to Wolf Cub Scouts, and their pack up (a term coined by I Scouter I volunteered with in the past), Wolf Cub Scouts moving up to Scouts, and one Scout moved up to Venture Scouts as well.
They also chose this night to induct the boy and I in to the Troop. We received our new neckers and badges for our uniforms. The boy and I thought we would never be members of any other Scout Group other than our old one. It was a little strange, but we both felt great at the same time. The Kemptville Troop, and the Grenville Group in general, are really switched on and have it together.
The first thing we did after the meeting was take a picture of the two of us with our new neckers on. As I am no longer involved with the old Group, I will be sewing my new badges on right away. The boy is still a member of the old Group and Kemptville simultaneously until the end of the 2016-17 Scouting year. He will have to decide when he makes the change for his uniform. He will most likely attend one or two more meetings with the old Group as a member. He is his own man and the decision is his.
We will be going to the Canada Jamboree 2017 as independents seconded to a Group from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but as full members of the Kemptville Troop as well. We are hoping to make a bigger trip of it in general for the two of us, now that we are on our own to and from the Jamboree. We just need to work out logistics and financing. Regardless, we are are very pleased with this new Group that has welcomed us at face value and also with the Group in Nova Scotia that has been no less inviting and inclusive.
Here is to new beginnings.
Cheers! blbbl
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
blogger app reviews - wow!
After my troubles with the Google Blogger app, I went in to the Google Play Store and took a look at the reviews.
Sometimes, there are tips and tricks in the reviews to get the most out of an app. There was one about attaching photos, but it is hit and miss.
So, the reviews were overwhelmingly negative. Like really bad. Most of it has to do with the same problems I am having: attaching a picture and having the app crap out and not save the post. Many other complaints deal with editing options; such as not being able to choose fonts and what can be done with fonts, inserting links, what little formatting that is available disappearing when re-editing the post from the web portal on a pc. All problems I myself have had.
Some reviews recommend other blogging apps and also praised Wordpress.
As to Wordpress? I have set up a parallel site with the same name. This was done some time ago. I originally planned, even before my first post, to clone all the posts and put them up in a Wordpress blog as a mirror of this site. That way, the blog would be able to be viewed from another portal and people could choose whichever layout they preferred.
Before I clone everything, I am going through every post and fixing any errors, typos, formatting irregularities and the like. Google Blogger is not making it easy to do this. I realised at some point I was not using the font I desired, but it is very problematic to change it to the font I want. Links have to be done separately from the regular text. The regular text needs to be done without any links in it. Also, sometimes, it will not change the font, even though it appears to have done so. When this occurs, I need to copy the text and paste it in to Notepad, recopy it there, and re-paste it back over the original text.
I have only managed to correct about a dozen posts to my liking. I will be copying them over the next month or two as I correct them in batches. Hopefully, before the boy and I go to Canada Jamboree 2017 (aka CJ17). After, the cloning, I will post to both sites simultaneously.
The other reason I want to clone the site? I have found references online from other bloggers who have said that Google has shut their blogs down without notice and removed, or hidden, all content, making it unavailable for viewing or recovery. I honestly do not know if this is true, but a backup is always a good idea.
Yet another reason to clone? Sometimes, Google Blogger just will not let me do what I want. This way, I can create my post in either platform and clone it in either direction. Also, on initial examination, the Wordpress app appears to be more dynamic and accommodating. If this is so, it will be easier and better for me to use while at CJ17.
I like the idea of having more than one way to get my posts up. I will definitely have to experiment with the cloning process. One way may be easier than the other way. It may not even work in one of the directions without difficulty. I definitely need to get on it sooner than later. The boy and I leave in early July for CJ17 and will be gone possibly for as long as two weeks (maybe even longer) doing other events and activities too.
So, stand by for multiple options for your reading pleasure. The easier it is for you, the rooster's readership, to access the blog, the better it is for everyone. blbbl
Sometimes, there are tips and tricks in the reviews to get the most out of an app. There was one about attaching photos, but it is hit and miss.
So, the reviews were overwhelmingly negative. Like really bad. Most of it has to do with the same problems I am having: attaching a picture and having the app crap out and not save the post. Many other complaints deal with editing options; such as not being able to choose fonts and what can be done with fonts, inserting links, what little formatting that is available disappearing when re-editing the post from the web portal on a pc. All problems I myself have had.
Some reviews recommend other blogging apps and also praised Wordpress.
As to Wordpress? I have set up a parallel site with the same name. This was done some time ago. I originally planned, even before my first post, to clone all the posts and put them up in a Wordpress blog as a mirror of this site. That way, the blog would be able to be viewed from another portal and people could choose whichever layout they preferred.
Before I clone everything, I am going through every post and fixing any errors, typos, formatting irregularities and the like. Google Blogger is not making it easy to do this. I realised at some point I was not using the font I desired, but it is very problematic to change it to the font I want. Links have to be done separately from the regular text. The regular text needs to be done without any links in it. Also, sometimes, it will not change the font, even though it appears to have done so. When this occurs, I need to copy the text and paste it in to Notepad, recopy it there, and re-paste it back over the original text.
I have only managed to correct about a dozen posts to my liking. I will be copying them over the next month or two as I correct them in batches. Hopefully, before the boy and I go to Canada Jamboree 2017 (aka CJ17). After, the cloning, I will post to both sites simultaneously.
The other reason I want to clone the site? I have found references online from other bloggers who have said that Google has shut their blogs down without notice and removed, or hidden, all content, making it unavailable for viewing or recovery. I honestly do not know if this is true, but a backup is always a good idea.
Yet another reason to clone? Sometimes, Google Blogger just will not let me do what I want. This way, I can create my post in either platform and clone it in either direction. Also, on initial examination, the Wordpress app appears to be more dynamic and accommodating. If this is so, it will be easier and better for me to use while at CJ17.
I like the idea of having more than one way to get my posts up. I will definitely have to experiment with the cloning process. One way may be easier than the other way. It may not even work in one of the directions without difficulty. I definitely need to get on it sooner than later. The boy and I leave in early July for CJ17 and will be gone possibly for as long as two weeks (maybe even longer) doing other events and activities too.
So, stand by for multiple options for your reading pleasure. The easier it is for you, the rooster's readership, to access the blog, the better it is for everyone. blbbl
Monday, May 15, 2017
pc plus points - what a joke
I signed up for the President's Choice points program known as PCPlus. You get points at grocery stores that sign up to the program. Generally, Loblaws, Independent Grocers (who really are not all that independent), and you can see more here.
Other than the fact that the app really sucks, I am constantly being locked out of my account.
Then they recently got hacked. They reset everyone's accounts and sent a password reset link. It did not work. I had to call them. What a nightmare.
Finally, the password was reset. Then I am in a store that is part of the program. (An aside here. I rarely go in to stores that are part of the program because generally their produce is horrible, their prices are high, and the fact that PCPlus now drives me nuts.) I had to get a few things and went to an Independent Grocers. The cashier tells me that there is a problem with my account. What? Yeah, there's a message that your account is not working. Oh great.
I call PCPlus when I get home and learn, that my account has been in limbo since I reset my password. Not only did they reset the passwords when the accounts were reset, but they really reset the accounts. Everyone was issued with a new account number.
Well, no one told me. No email, no screen flash at the grocery store, not the last joker I spoke with on the phone when I reset the password that last time, nothing. Well, the guy on the other end of the phone this time was really good. He fixed me up and linked my PCPlus Mastercard so the points would be all in one account. He tells me it will take up to a week to filter through. Okay.
I get an email, actually two, from PCPlus that tells me to log in to my account. Okay, I do. Nope. Wrong password. What? Try again. And again. Locked out. Message says I need to call them. I do. After going through a maze disguised as an automated call direction service, I get through to a human. They say they will send me an email to reset my password. Okay. It can take up to half an hour to get it. Okay? I guess it is like on the Flintstones: a pterodactyl needs to carve it with its beak and then fly it over.
I get the email. I follow the steps to change my password. Locked out on the first go. I call back. Get a bunch of baloney that there is a problem with resetting the passwords and the tech team is working on it. Then why did the previous person I spoke with not say that and tell me? I start to get the runaround. I lose my cool. Big time. I am not all too nice. In the end the agent pledges to call me tomorrow to let me know the status of the situation. Honestly, I do not expect a call. I will just try again on another day.
By this time, I have regained my composure. I apologise to the agent. No one needs a freak out, unless of course it truly is their fault, they are incompetent, and/or are outright lying. Runaround or not, my reaction was too much. However, I did inform the agent, as I know all calls are recorded and many are reviewed, that, once I can actually use my points when my account is unlocked finally, I will use them up and leave the program and cancel my Mastercard. What few dollars I am getting are not worth the frustration of this program and their truly incompetent technical people.
So, while I have been typing, I have received my fourth email from PCPlus. It tells me I have successfully reset my password. Really? The last message I got when trying to do that was that I was locked out of my account. Shall we take a look?
After more than six attempts, it tells me that last known password I tried to reset to is incorrect. Before that, it just kept looping me back to the login screen. It also has that "I'm not a robot" dumbass thing with the picture grid. It is not loading right, but I am getting them right as far as can be seen in the tiny pictures. My favourite, there is a mural of cars on a road. It tells me to click all the squares with vehicles. I do. Then I see a sliver of a parking lot with vehicles. I click it, but I know that is not part of what they are looking for. Reject. Next one, correct and back to login.
Pretty funny actually. What a bunch of useless tools these assclowns are. I will try to figure out a way to get in contact with someone high up the PCPlus foodchain. If I were in charge? I would fire everyone who works on the online portion of the program except the lowest paid person. I would keep them and promote them, with raise, to the job of being responsible to keep the new team of assclowns (I call them that in advance, because they will be, we all know it) from being a bunch of useless tools like the last bunch, of which this person was a part.
Anyway enough of this ridiculousness. I am going to back to putting up my tent gazebo on the back deck. That way, I can work on my garden tomorrow. blbbl
Other than the fact that the app really sucks, I am constantly being locked out of my account.
Then they recently got hacked. They reset everyone's accounts and sent a password reset link. It did not work. I had to call them. What a nightmare.
Finally, the password was reset. Then I am in a store that is part of the program. (An aside here. I rarely go in to stores that are part of the program because generally their produce is horrible, their prices are high, and the fact that PCPlus now drives me nuts.) I had to get a few things and went to an Independent Grocers. The cashier tells me that there is a problem with my account. What? Yeah, there's a message that your account is not working. Oh great.
I call PCPlus when I get home and learn, that my account has been in limbo since I reset my password. Not only did they reset the passwords when the accounts were reset, but they really reset the accounts. Everyone was issued with a new account number.
Well, no one told me. No email, no screen flash at the grocery store, not the last joker I spoke with on the phone when I reset the password that last time, nothing. Well, the guy on the other end of the phone this time was really good. He fixed me up and linked my PCPlus Mastercard so the points would be all in one account. He tells me it will take up to a week to filter through. Okay.
I get an email, actually two, from PCPlus that tells me to log in to my account. Okay, I do. Nope. Wrong password. What? Try again. And again. Locked out. Message says I need to call them. I do. After going through a maze disguised as an automated call direction service, I get through to a human. They say they will send me an email to reset my password. Okay. It can take up to half an hour to get it. Okay? I guess it is like on the Flintstones: a pterodactyl needs to carve it with its beak and then fly it over.
I get the email. I follow the steps to change my password. Locked out on the first go. I call back. Get a bunch of baloney that there is a problem with resetting the passwords and the tech team is working on it. Then why did the previous person I spoke with not say that and tell me? I start to get the runaround. I lose my cool. Big time. I am not all too nice. In the end the agent pledges to call me tomorrow to let me know the status of the situation. Honestly, I do not expect a call. I will just try again on another day.
By this time, I have regained my composure. I apologise to the agent. No one needs a freak out, unless of course it truly is their fault, they are incompetent, and/or are outright lying. Runaround or not, my reaction was too much. However, I did inform the agent, as I know all calls are recorded and many are reviewed, that, once I can actually use my points when my account is unlocked finally, I will use them up and leave the program and cancel my Mastercard. What few dollars I am getting are not worth the frustration of this program and their truly incompetent technical people.
So, while I have been typing, I have received my fourth email from PCPlus. It tells me I have successfully reset my password. Really? The last message I got when trying to do that was that I was locked out of my account. Shall we take a look?
After more than six attempts, it tells me that last known password I tried to reset to is incorrect. Before that, it just kept looping me back to the login screen. It also has that "I'm not a robot" dumbass thing with the picture grid. It is not loading right, but I am getting them right as far as can be seen in the tiny pictures. My favourite, there is a mural of cars on a road. It tells me to click all the squares with vehicles. I do. Then I see a sliver of a parking lot with vehicles. I click it, but I know that is not part of what they are looking for. Reject. Next one, correct and back to login.
Pretty funny actually. What a bunch of useless tools these assclowns are. I will try to figure out a way to get in contact with someone high up the PCPlus foodchain. If I were in charge? I would fire everyone who works on the online portion of the program except the lowest paid person. I would keep them and promote them, with raise, to the job of being responsible to keep the new team of assclowns (I call them that in advance, because they will be, we all know it) from being a bunch of useless tools like the last bunch, of which this person was a part.
Anyway enough of this ridiculousness. I am going to back to putting up my tent gazebo on the back deck. That way, I can work on my garden tomorrow. blbbl
this must be my next email from pcplus being delivered (courtesy youtube)
Sunday, May 14, 2017
regular programming suspended - mother's day
So, another quick post.
It was a long day. Canoe training and testing. My hike. The wife spent the day with the mother-in-law then took her to her friend's for the evening.
As all that is over, the boy and I are taking the wife / the mother out for Mother's Day. There is a Mexican-style restaurant in the next town over she wants to try. We are off shortly. Soon as I put some pants on.
Tomorrow will be less of a diary and more of a post. Have a great Mother's Day and a a great night. We plan to. blbbl
It was a long day. Canoe training and testing. My hike. The wife spent the day with the mother-in-law then took her to her friend's for the evening.
As all that is over, the boy and I are taking the wife / the mother out for Mother's Day. There is a Mexican-style restaurant in the next town over she wants to try. We are off shortly. Soon as I put some pants on.
Tomorrow will be less of a diary and more of a post. Have a great Mother's Day and a a great night. We plan to. blbbl
Saturday, May 13, 2017
short post again - hiding in the garage
This post is short and from the phone because I caught heck from the wife yesterday for getting on. I am also posting from the garage.
The mother-in-law is visiting. The boy and I were not even supposed to be here anyway. We were supposed to be at the Rideau Challenge Journey Hike, but it was postponed until October due to the very wet trail conditions. And the canoe course ended up being moved to this weekend as well.
So, a full day with canoe instruction and my hike on the Cedar Grove Trail (4.5 km). I am bushed. I need to wash up, make supper, and get to sleep. Another full day with canoe instruction and testing.
Hopefully, I will get me stride back once this very busy weekend is done.
Nighty-night. blbbl
Friday, May 12, 2017
short post - wet and cold
Sorry, super short.
The boy and I were on a canoe course this evening. Even though the air temperature is around 18℃ (65℉), the water is much, much colder. Drying all our gear for tomorrow and getting other gear sorted as well.
That, and trying to feel my toes again. Drove home with the heater on, but not much help. Going to try to warm up and sleep. I am sure there will be some tales when the course is over Sunday afternoon.
I also need to figure out when I am going to hike the next two days. Super early or super late. Decisions, decisions. Maybe I will sleep on it. blbbl
The boy and I were on a canoe course this evening. Even though the air temperature is around 18℃ (65℉), the water is much, much colder. Drying all our gear for tomorrow and getting other gear sorted as well.
That, and trying to feel my toes again. Drove home with the heater on, but not much help. Going to try to warm up and sleep. I am sure there will be some tales when the course is over Sunday afternoon.
I also need to figure out when I am going to hike the next two days. Super early or super late. Decisions, decisions. Maybe I will sleep on it. blbbl
Thursday, May 11, 2017
clean up aisle three
So, posting from phone again. Still cannot add pics. Will do that from notebook after.
Went to the Cedar Grove Trail today and before my hike cleaned up the parking lot and the start of the trail.
Surprisingly, it only took a little over thirty minutes. I am sure there is still more detritus under all the leaves and deadfall, but I am only one man.
I filled up two huge garbage bags that were left over from the cleanup with the Kemptville Scout Troop. I would say it is at least sixty or seventy pounds between the two.
a heck of a lot of garbage
There was all kinds of stuff. Cups galore, rags, clothing (?), a bunch of used diapers, some bottles (plastic and glass), a muffin pan, half a rice cooker, bags, wound dressings and more. Someone did take the beer cans though. Thanks!
Reflecting on some of the items, I hope I did not clean up a crime scene. (°.°)
While picking up the trash, I opened the truck windows and cranked the stereo. It was oddly relaxing. When I was done, I grabbed my stave and went for an easy, slow hike: 5kmh (3 mph). It was really quiet today. Just a little bit of bird song, but it was really clouded over. Like dull metal, but it did not rain thankfully.
Got home and put the bags at the curb. Hopefully, the waste disposal guys take it tomorrow. Pretty grody looking as it is clear bags and heavy.
I cannot wait til tomorrow to see what new treats may be awaiting me in the parking lot. blbbl
all cleaned up and ready for the next batch of trail trash people
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