FOBSBLOG

This is Fobsblog, where we will wax poetic (or not) about many varied subjects and explore all the possibilities for interesting content, including feedback from our readers. We hope you find something here that you didn't know yesterday and share it with others who may be interested.

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May 04

All things are NOT created equal (or should it be equally?)

This blog has been created to provide a venue for First Order Business Services and its clients and other interested parties to communicate and share common and not-so-common interests. We invite you to participate and hope you enjoy what we have to offer and reciprocate if you so choose. We will be discussing subjects as dry as finances, bookkeeping, numbers and as lively as music, literature and whatever else happens to come along that we find interesting and worthwhile.

Our first posting is related to computers and specifically, Windows latest foray into operating systems - Windows 7. We subscribe to ZD Net, part of the CBS Interactive network and the BNET group of business and technology sites. They have a plethora of information that is too extensive to list here. Check them out and see for yourselves.

They have many bloggers on their site who keep users well informed on the latest news and the newsletter I got today from one of my favourites, Ed Bott, disturbed me because it told me that the investment I made earlier this year in equipment will be for naught if I want to convert to Win7 and use the much vaunted XP Mode and I quote:

How much positive Windows 7 buzz will be wiped out in coming weeks and months when consumers and business buyers discover that a heavily hyped new Windows 7 feature, XP Mode, won’t work on some Intel-based products? The problem is caused by the Byzantine way Intel packages its CPU technology—adding, removing, and tweaking features like bus speed and cache size to hit the widest variety of price points for PC makers.

Seems Microsoft and Intel are doomed to repeat history and haven't learned their lessons well. When Windows Vista launched, Intel and Microsoft both got a black eye over the infamous “Vista Capable” logo. Despite being two of the most successful entities in the technology world, seems they like to spend a great deal of time in the 'dog house'. I'd rather spend MY time with my dogs than in THEIR house On that note, you might like to see Gus, who thinks its better to spend HIS time outside the house. Check him out here:

Really, BNET, CNET, ZDNET and Tech Republic are a treasure trove of information and worth checking out. You can pick and choose the content you want to receive and although there are lots of advertising links, there is absolutely no obligation to buy or accept solicitations. All your choice.

I literally stumbled upon the site Stumble Upon when I was looking for an add-on for my Firefox browser. Ever since, I have been amused, entertained, thought-provoked and downright humbled by what is out on the 'Net. Check this site for yourself and get stumbling on to sites chosen to suit YOUR interests. This is one of the links I was sent to when I clicked on the Stumble! icon in the toolbar. In case you aren't quite seeing it yet, I am an animal lover from way back and will be to the day I no longer take a breath on this mortal plane.

A few years back I read about "Einstein" ( no NOT Albert) the African grey parrot who had an extensive vocabulary. That began a search about these magnificent birds and led me to discover Alex. Dr. Irene Pepperberg has been studying the intelligence and reasoning abilities of the African Grey parrot for almost 30 years and found Alex in a Chicago pet store. After Pepperberg bought Alex from the animal shop in 1973, the parrot learned enough English to identify 50 different objects, seven colors, and five shapes. Sadly, he died in his cage at the age of 31 and there are no end to the interesting videos on YouTube about him.

This one narrated by William Shatner has links to many other resources about the amazing African Greys whom Alex was instrumental in elevating their status in the pecking order (pun most definitely intended) of the creatures that inhabit this planet Earth. Griffin carries on the work Dr. Pepperberg began with Alex and is living testament to the statement, made by a biologist I read recently, and I quote: "The single most important thing I have learned is an appreciation for the uncountable amount of things that we do not know." Who can argue with that? Life is an ongoing learning experience and it is that which makes it most worth living.

Catch up with us @ FirstOrderBusinessServices.com where YOUR Bottom Line is OUR First Order of Business

8:15 PM GMT | Read comments(0)

May 27

Little did I know the true meaning of my first post's title

It's been a while since I took my virtual pen to paper and posted an entry. When I wrote last that all things are not created equal (or should it be equally), little did I know (although given their history, I should not be surprised) that Microsoft in its infinitely perplexing way has once again dropped the ball. Which ball is that you may ask? The one that makes two products produced by Microsoft compatible. In the amazing maze of their Windows Live product offerings, which includes this very blog, they encourage Live users to add an endless array of features to their profiles and tout the interconnectivity of the various offerings. Alas, this tantalizing Smörgåsbord is missing a vital ingredient. Videos embedded in the Windows Live blog, do not display in my Office Live Small Business Website. Yet Microsoft encourages us to use these products together.

Anyone who has ever had to contact Microsoft for support knows that this in itself is a challenge in that you may start off with one support person and by the time the issue is resolved (if it ever is), you have had close encounters of at least the third kind, but more likely of the tenth kind. I contacted the Windows Live support team and after being instructed to take screenshots of what was occurring, paste them into the paint program and create a bmp or jpg and attach it to an email and send it back to the support team for perusal, was then informed that they did not have the knowledge to deal with this issue. Additionally, they could not forward my email to the support team (Office Live Small Business) who could. Once again, I created another online email, sent it off and got a reply the next day telling me that this is NOT unexpected behaviour, but simply how these two products are designed, and I quote:

I understand that you have posted videos on your Windows Live Blog and you have added that Windows Live Blog into your Microsoft Office Live website. However, those videos are not working within your Microsoft Office Live website. I certainly realize the importance of your concern.

With reference to your concern, I am sorry to inform you that the videos which you have posted on your Windows Live Blog will not play after inserting that Windows Live Blog in your Microsoft Office Live website. This is the reason your videos are not playing within your website (which are posted in your Windows Live Blog).

May be in future versions of Microsoft Office Live, this feature will be supported. However, I cannot comment when this feature will be available

Moreover, you can forward your qualitative feedback to the concerned department, so that such supportive and helpful features may be introduced at the earliest. Please visit the below mentioned link to send your feedback regarding Microsoft Office Live:

https://feedback.officelive.com/eform.aspx?productkey=officelive&locale=en-us&CW=1

Needless to say, when one clicks on the link above, another dose of frustration is dished out, as there is absolutely no provision to receive a response to this 'feedback' form provided. Despite this, I did my best to convey to whomever is on the receiving end of the feedback that it was certainly short sighted of Microsoft not to offer interoperability between these two similar product offerings.

Brings to mind that catchphrase for Red Rose tea and its availability - "Only in Canada, you say? Pity...." . Pity indeed that the videos only work in the Windows Live blog. Somewhat baffling as to why this would be so when other videos work seamlessly in the website. Go figure. Then again, who knows the inner workings of the infinitesimal cogs in the Microsoft software wheel? Not I, nor I expect, do many others.

These products are so buggy and I have had to embed the videos countless times into my previous posting after editing the contents. Similar problems dog me in the website (although, inexplicably, not with the videos) and once again, I wish I could be like Gus and just shrug it off and enjoy myself in the endless pursuit of fun while slurping refreshments (something about a bulldog doing this makes it all the more fun).

He sure likes his treats (Check him out on YouTube by clicking on link)

Check him out here in another video (link for those checking this out on the website) and if you, like me, can't get enough of Gus, there are many more YouTube videos of him for the asking.

Till next encounter, stay happy and when you get a chance, check us out @ FirstOrderBusinessServices.com

8:26 PM GMT | Read comments(0)