RSS Feed Doesn’t Work Anymore

On By Michel McDonaldIn Daily BlogLeave a comment

I have had the worst day with my blog.  I don’t know why it happened or when it happened but all of a sudden my RSS feed doesn’t work anymore.  When you click the RSS in my blog this is the message that you get.

Ok fine, I see the problem but I don’t know what file to open in my blog folder to fix the issue.  I can’t save XML files at all, I can alter and save a php file no problem but the problem is finding which php file has this error.

I right clicked the RSS button and saved the file which downloaded as download.xml but again, I can’t alter and save an xml file to fix whatever issue I’m having.

I’ve googled the issue the entire freaking day and I just can’t find an answer.  I’m not going to mess with it any more today because it’s just making me mad the more I try and my shows are coming on soon so I’m going to just watch SyFy until then.

Maybe tomorrow I will be able to find my answer.

The problem is, without my RSS feed my posts won’t transfer over to other websites like my fan page and YouSayToo.  I’ve been lucky enough that they have been going over to YouSayToo by whatever miracle that allowed that.

Maybe someone else had this issue and can respond to me.  Hopefully…

Don’t Laugh, He’s a Beginner

On By Michel McDonaldIn Friends and FamilyLeave a comment

My friend Sue’s son Aaron is a very talented 30-year-old man.  I’ve known Sue for 13 years, back when Aaron was still a teenager and I never knew that he could do this.  He says not to laugh because he’s a beginner but I think he’s talking to all the haters out there who like to flame people.  I for one did not laugh because I was shocked that he could play music at all.

So here is his first YouTube video ever, I’d like to introduce Aaron playing a song that he wrote on the flute.

WoW Look At That Phish

On By Michel McDonaldIn ScamsLeave a comment

I don’t know if this is a new scam or if it’s been around and they are just now getting to me but last week I got an email that looked as if it really came from Blizzard telling me that a character faction change is now pending for my World of Warcraft account with my email address and a link to track the status of my request.

Down in the email they had a transaction ID number with my email address again then below that was some “more information” along with a few links.  2 of those links were different from what was shown in the text.  That there was my clue that something didn’t smell right.

So, obviously I knew it was a phishing scam because I don’t have a World of Warcraft account with them.  I played the trial back in 2006 for the week they gave me but I really only played it for a couple of days.  I was taking a break from EverQuest to get away from all the drama in the guild and during that break I tried out the demo of some other games.

The only thing that concerned me about this email was that when I was at the blizzard website looking for their contact information I stumbled onto their FAQ page and found out that they charge $30 to change your characters faction.  If I did have an account, which I knew I didn’t but if I did I didn’t want to be charged $30 for nothing.

I finally found the contact page and forwarded them the email that I got.  They responded letting me know that they can confirm that the email address that was associated in this phishing email does not exist in their database, meaning I don’t have an account to worry about.

I got another email today from a different email address but still from blizzard telling me that my account has been locked due to suspicious activity.  It said that my account had been logged in via a different IP address than what their records show as being my IP address.  They are concerned my account has been stolen so they locked me out.  I don’t have an account so you didn’t lock me out of something I didn’t have in the first place.

Naturally I can only assume this is another phishing scam email.  I went to verify that the links were exactly as they were showing up in text and of course they are different.

So even though I know I have nothing to worry about, I am writing this blog post to warn other people out there who actually do have a World of Warcraft account to beware.  If you get these emails and you know for a fact that you did not order a faction change for $30 and you know for a fact that you can still login, that your account hasn’t been locked then you know not to click ANY LINKS in those emails.  Beware when someone sends you an email asking you to click a link to login to your account because you might be handing over the keys to the Bentley without even knowing it.

Prop-8 Decision Today

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gay Rights, NOH8, Political, Prop 81 Comment

Image via Wikipedia

The NOH8 Campaign twittered this just a few minutes ago:

“: Chicagoans Plan Rally in Response to #PROP8 Ruling   http://tinyurl.com/32q3jrq #NOH8 #LGBT Be heard!”

So I went over to that website and read it. I think that the National Organization for [Straight] Marriage is being just a little melodramatic with this statement.

““We want supporters of marriage all across the country to have a clear understanding of the threat this federal judge poses to the very survival of marriage in America.”

Tell me one straight married couple whose marriage is going to be threatened by gays getting married. Not one! How is gays getting married going to threaten your way of life? It’s not. The whole point of gays wanting to get married is number 1 equal rights and number 2 health care benefits.

I think it sucks that straight married couples who have health care benefits through their employer can pass those benefits over to their spouse but a gay couple is out of luck in that department. Is that what is going to threaten their marriage? The fact that the gays will be able to give their dying partners a chance at life with health insurance?

There are way more benefits than I just spoke about such as being able to bury your partner, being able to make medical decisions in the hospital as well as after death when they have passed on.  Many more which I can’t think of so if you can enlighten me with a comment.

Go lay an egg.

Rick Jacobs, founder of the pro-LGBT unions Courage Campaign said in this article . “I can only say that based on the evidence in the trial, it is absolutely clear that allowing gays and lesbians to marry will strengthen families and the nation,” and “No matter how the judge rules … we’ve already won a significant victory because the other side admitted they have no argument.”

See that? No argument. They have to prove that gays getting married is going to threaten marriage and they can’t prove it because it’s not going to threaten marriage. How can it? I just don’t see the logic in their argument.

The religious people don’t want gays getting married because “the bible says it’s wrong” boo hoo. They say being gay is a sin so they shouldn’t be allowed to get married because being gay is a choice. Ok well if being gay were a choice then I can choose to be straight right? … … … yeah, not gonna happen. It’s not that easy because I have news for you, I was born this way. I didn’t have a choice in the matter, it just happened to me.

Believe me, if I had a choice I wouldn’t choose to have eggs thrown at me, punches thrown at my face by my stepdad and the other kids in school who made fun of me and called me faggot everyday. I didn’t choose that, I wouldn’t choose that. So their argument has no merit since it’s a BS argument.

The ruling will be in some time this afternoon.  This whole prop-8 BS campaign is never going to end because both sides are just going to keep appealing it.

Bicycle Trailers

On By Michel McDonaldIn Cycling, Daily BlogLeave a comment

Last year I found an article on the Dvice blog about a guy who built his own bicycle trailer for going to “Burning Man”.  In that article was a link to another website which showed the same article but also another article for Roy the PVC Guy who was building his own trailer out of PVC.

I was looking at another article which has some links to other trailers people have made such as this trailer that doesn’t look exactly like a trailer to sleep in as much as it just looks like the kind of trailer you use for hauling your things.  Although if you keep watching as he directs his grandson to help him you will discover that it is indeed a trailer for sleeping in.  I was oohing and ahhing throughout the process which only took 12 minutes.

I can’t add that video in here for some odd reason but you can see it here.  Vic’s Journey to Manitoba.

But, as nice as that is you have to look at this video right here.  This is absolutely amazing.  And I know it’s not for bicycles, it’s for cars but if you are able to build this yourself it would make a very nice bicycle trailer.

It’s just a matter of lifting the top and putting it on the ground and the tent pops up all by itself.  It’s so easy.  If you build this for a bicycle you just use the same concept but with bicycle wheels.

I also like this idea because it allows for 2 people to share a space and tow their own trailer.

I don’t know if anyone has built this one but if they have I would love to see it in action.  In fact, if anyone has any videos please send them to me, I’d love to see them.

Tech Support…

On By Michel McDonaldIn Humor, JokeLeave a comment

A friend sent this email to me today, it’s hilarious.  I’m copying and pasting it into this blog post, editing it a bit to make it easier to read.  This ought to give you a good chuckle.

This ought to make you feel better about your computer skills!

Tech support: What kind of computer do you have?

Customer: A white one…

Customer: Hi, this is Celine .. I can’t get my diskette out.

Tech support: Have you tried pushing the Button?

Customer: Yes, sure, it’s really stuck.

Tech support: That doesn’t sound good; I’ll make a note.

Customer: No , wait a minute. I hadn’t inserted it yet… it’s still on my desk… sorry…

Tech support: Click on the ‘my computer’ icon on to the left of the screen.

Customer: Your left or my left?

Tech support: Good day. How may I help you?

Male customer: Hello… I can’t print.

Tech support: Would you click on ‘start’ for me and….

Customer: Listen pal; don’t start getting technical on me! I’m not Bill Gates..

Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can’t print. Every time I try, it says ‘Can’t find printer’. I’ve even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can’t find it.

Customer: I have problems printing in red..

Tech support: Do you have a color printer?

Customer: Aaaah………………..thank you.

Tech support: What’s on your monitor now, ma’am?

Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me at the 7-11.

Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.

Tech support: Are you sure it’s plugged into the computer?

Customer: No. I can’t get behind the computer.

Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back.

Customer: ! OK

Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you?

Customer: Yes

Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard?

Customer: Yes, there’s another one here. Ah that one does work..

Tech support: Your password is the small letter ‘a’ as in apple, a capital letter V as in Victor, the number 7.

Customer: Is that 7 in capital letters ?

Customer: I can’t get on the Internet.

Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password?

Customer: Yes, I’m sure. I saw my colleague do it.

Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was?

Customer: Five dots.

Tech support: What anti-virus program do you use?

Customer: Netscape.

Tech support: That’s not an anti-virus program.

Customer: Oh, sorry… Internet Explorer.

Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.

Tech support: How may I help you?

Customer: I’m writing my first email.

Tech support: OK, and what seems to be the problem?

Customer: Well, I have the letter ‘a’ in the address, but how do I get the little circle around it?

A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer.

Tech support: Are you running it under windows?

Customer: ‘No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine.’

And last but not least…

Tech support: ‘Okay Bob, let’s press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter ‘P’ to bring up the Program Manager.’

Customer: I don’t have a P.

Tech support: On your keyboard, Bob.

Customer: What do you mean?

Tech support: ‘P’…..on your keyboard, Bob.

Customer: I’M NOT GOING TO DO THAT!

My July SparkPeople Trophies

On By Michel McDonaldIn Diet, SparkPeopleLeave a comment

I got a nice surprise tonight, special trophies for July. These aren’t the normal trophy that you see everyday. I’ve been a member of SparkPeople since 2007 and I’ve never gotten any special trophies like this. I like to think that I was consistent and had good attendance in June but I guess not.

The emails I got didn’t explain why I got each trophy, it just shows that I got them. I think the consistency one is for putting in my daily nutrition and being a good 1500 calories +/-, perfect attendance for logging in every day for spark points and maybe the 500 monthly spark points one is for earning 500 points in July.

I think the point of these is to keep me motivated so that maybe next month in the beginning of September I will get some August special trophies.

Brussells Sprouts

On By Michel McDonaldIn Diet, FoodLeave a comment

Growing up my mother served this vegetable at least once a week.  Brussels Sprouts was a very good idea to give to children to help them get their veggies.  However, my stepdad tainted them for me by calling them “Monkey Balls”.  I didn’t mind the taste of them but the more I thought about the image of monkey testicles in my head the less appealing they were for me.  I would eat them because I had to, I didn’t want to upset mother but at the same time the image in my head was unappealing to me so they became disgusting.

Since I was thrown out onto the streets at the age of 17 I have vowed to never eat them or even think about them again.  Well, it’s been 23 years and I think that I’ve grown enough to get over it.

I didn’t know when they were in season and Albertson’s has had them for a little over a week now so I assume July is their season(?).  I’ve been waiting for them to carry them in the produce (not frozen) section so that I could steam them and last night I finally got that chance.

I posted on my Facebook wall “Cooking a healthy dinner. 4oz boneless skinless chicken breast with 1/2 cup white rice and 3 large Brussels Sprouts. Yum yum.” and got quite a lot of responses.  Nobody ever responds to my wall posts but I guess that one struck a chord.  Apparently people love these balls.  The conversation ended with 20 responses with 2 people “liking” that post.

I discovered in this conversation that it is ok to steam them as long as I keep an eye on them.  I steamed them in the rice cooker with white rice cooking below and the timing was perfect.  When the rice was finished and the steamer button popped to “warming”, the sprouts were finished.  When I cook brown rice and steam veggies, the brown rice takes longer and over steams the veggies so it’s good to know that white rice cooking time is precise.

We only bought 10 sprouts at the store and we each had 3 last night (they were huge) and Darrin loved them so much he ate the rest this morning so we will need to get more.  Although, I don’t want to make this an everyday vegetable, I don’t want to get sick of them too fast.

I have gotten over the name “Monkey Balls” and it’s a good thing because they are only 7 calories per sprout.  Hello!  7 Calories!  That’s awesome.

Open Letter to Target and Best Buy

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gay Rights, PoliticalLeave a comment

Thanks to my new addiction to Twimbow and my subscription to @helloross, I have discovered that there is an injustice happening with Target and Best Buy.

Here is the email that they wanted me to send out after I signed the petition.  It will explain what’s happening better than I can.

“Hey,

I’m not sure if you’ve heard this yet, but Target and Best Buy have together contributed over $250,000 to a political group working to elect a candidate for Governor of Minnesota with ties to a Christian rock band that advocates violence and death to gays.  Will you join me in signing on to this open letter asking them to make it right by donating an equal amount to pro-equality candidates?  http://bit.ly/9tqNLm“

Ok, I’m thinking that Target and Best Buy had no idea that the candidate they were donating to had ties to this christian rock band who hates gay people.  I’m sure they were just donating to the candidate they wanted to help win so I really don’t blame them.  However, if they did know about it then I don’t appreciate it as a gay man.

Because I am not sure whether it was intentional or not, I have to say goodbye to Target and Best Buy (not that I ever shopped there anyway) until they make things right by donating the same amount of money to a pro-equality candidate to cancel out their previous donation.

What’s sad is that I am boycotting Wal-Mart because of their douchy practices toward gay and lesbians and people in general and for being the reason mom and pop shops had to close down.  Target was my backup store.  When I wanted something that I normally went to Wal-Mart for, I would go to Target instead.  So now, neither of them get any of my money.

I hope that whoever reads this signs the petition.  Here is also a letter to Target and Best Buy that you can print and bring to the store managers of those stores, although I don’t know anyone who will actually do that lol.  But here it is anyway.

Thanks for listening.

My New Addiction – Twimbow

On By Michel McDonaldIn TwitterLeave a comment

I’ve said in my previous Twimbow posts, I’ve never been a “Twitter” person, well, I said Twit. I’ve been staring at Twimbow all day. Now that I know about lists I feel comfortable because I’m not pressured to look at 50 tweets a second.

I’m also learning color coding. See the image below, the colored boxes above all the tweets. That is an awesome feature because now I can give each group of celebrities (and friends) a certain color. Like all the Bravo people have Orange, all the E! people have purple, all the SyFy people have lime green… Friend tweets are all yellow. But this will allow me to filter who I want to look at as far as celebrities and friends go.

I’m having way more fun than any person should with Twitter lol.