Captain Kirk's Mac experience

A twitter follower has a ezine that I am interested in and after I made the statement that there was no men's articles at all on anything . He mentioned to me to submit an article on men's issues by the 23rd of this month. So I am brainstorming on what to write about.

I am finishing up my class for this quarter and I will have time (about a week) to think about a topic and write up to 500 words on a subject that involves some pertinent men issues.

I think I got one off the top of my head and I will not reveal it yet since I am apt to change my mind,so I will keep it a "secret". I am kind of pumped about it. My first piece of published work-no big deal right.

I am becoming more familiar with my new Mac book Pro and I am still in love with my new toy

I learning more about the machine and how it works in reference to Windows PC . I still have my PC for basic files and I am still trying to get all of my important files onto my Mac. I am being somewhat cautious based on my first experience with my New Mac which happened on the 8th of February.

I went to the Apple Store here in Cleveland and I got a very different feel walking in there.

There seems to be a sort of camaraderie there and to add when I bought it I was congratulated when I told them that this computer was my very first. They were very polite in asking me if I minded if they went through the routine which I think they do for all first time Mac users and buyers. Truly a nice feeling. I guess that for the price you pay for their products they should provide a little moral support along with any technical help that may come up highly unlikely right?

Well I bought it for 2k and took it home and it developed problems after the third day I had it

and then I bought it back for them to tell me after they looked at it, that it was a hardware issue.

I wont go into details but it was inoperable after the problems developed. They allegedly fixed it and I took it back home only to have the problem repeat itself which of course gave me anxiety based on what I went thru with my 7 year old Compaq laptop. I did take it back and after talking with the reps there I was presented with a new model and was again a satisfied customer and to this day I am happy with it. I am connecting to a lot of Mac users and watching mac tutorials on the Apple site and other various sites including mac forums and you tube videos on different things I could do on my Mac book and with the operating system which is Macosx Leopard 10.5-

And as I write this Apple is working on their new OS upgrade Snow Leopard 10.6 which I probably wont get since it is not free.

That is all I can think of right now

So until next time

Kirk

Notes from a Mac Newbie

Hello all

I am still testing my new Mac and it is working great I am still a little taken back about what it can do. I have been reviewing a lot of Youtube Mac tutorials and even set up a google alert to notify me by email when anything about my Macbook Pro comes available from any news source or blog. I am guess I am somewhat happy since I am not as frustrated as I was when I had my PC.

It was old (7 years old) and starting to show the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)which was a little too much for my taste. I have to admit I did contribute to the problem by downloading tons of unneeded software. And for your tech geeks out there you know what happens to a PC 's stability when that scenario materializes and besides my Compaq Presario was running a Mac emulator (basically hacked system files to emulate a Mac's appearance and some functions.) It compromised my memory which had a mere 256mb capacity with a hard disk capacity of 20 gb .

Wow such a weird thing to see and hear especially since I got this new mac which has 2 gb of memory with a disk capacity of 256 gb . Quite a difference huh!

I will keep this updated as new things happen in my life as a new Mac user.

Until next time

KIrk

MY first Mac Cont.

Hello all

I dont know where I left off but I think I was feeling the elation from buying my first Mac

I have had it for ten days unofficially due to having to make an exchange three days after I bought the first one. 

The Mac experience is just what every seasoned Mac user says it is"That once you go with a Mac you never turn back" And this is she, my great macbook pro. I am still learning the ropes and fascinated about what it can do. I am going to be using the installed apps instead of jumping on that download wagon, it always does me in. and before I have limited disk space so i will watch it.

I am looking forward to not having those system crashes that started to increase in frequency on my p.c. 

I am can say I am genuinely happy 

Now I am wondering how I am going to get the rest of files off my pc instead of taking it in to a technician to get them. The pics and documents are of a private nature only for my eyes only. So that option is out.

I am going to keep my PC just for that very purpose I guess. I do have a thumbdrive but I am not sure  if is compatible with my new Mac since they are files made on the window platform.

I will figure it out. 

My health is ok lately since my prostate cancer scare-I just got through a slight cold which lasted a total of 2.5 days-I nipped it in the bud with Zicam and green tea. I think I am going to go back to the gym at some point in the meantime I am working out here in my apt. 

I have to stay focused on one thing at a time. I am jumble of feelings right now since I got this macintosh.

 

I can't explain how blessed I am at this very moment to be able to experience the events that have taken place in the last 5 years since I my life changed so drastically.

I guess I dont give myself enough time to think about it-There are many fleeting thoughts and subsequent sadness. Only lasts for a short time-I am aware of the triggers but try to stay focused on my future goals 

I am going to stop there

Until next time

Kirk

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My first Mac

On Feburary 8 I purchased a Macbook Pro laptop and it was long time overdue . I did my research on buying the Mac due to the frustration I was having with my PC (Compaq Presario Laptop) now 7 years old and fading fast. So I decided that it became more of a necessity than a luxury to have a new computer. My rationalization came from my status as a online Master's student at Capella  Univeristy . So I am excited and finally picked out one that I liked and would have the features that I desire. I needed  a faster and more reliable computer just for school work and my email and general internet surfing. 

I purchased it at a Apple Store and bought it home and it worked fine for three days and then suddenly it went to sleep and never came out of sleep so I "cold booted" it I will update you more maybe tomorrow on my Macintosh story

Year of Renewal

With the beginning of a year of layoffs ,mergers and economic and financial crises,

we needed a change and we are at the beginning of that era where I think it will be a slow but deliberate one I have had a rocky year due to being diagnosed with prostate cancer in March of last year -another wake up call to remind me how precious life is . I am learning more about myself as I get older . I have been unemployed for at least 5 years but been busy with school online.

I decided to take a break when I got the above diagnosis to deal physically and mentally with this new challenge

I am elated and embracing our new African American president Barack Obama -I am confident he will slowly but surely bring us out of this deep black hole the country is in. I am concerned it is going to get worse before it get better. So I have been told. I just have to monitor closely the progress the our new president is making in his first 100 days in office. He is not wasting any time with crucial issues and I am sure he will address everything that he mentioned in his campaign for the presidency. Patience is going to be something society will have to depend on since we are in a deep recession.

There will opinions from all sorts of people including the media on what should be done based on their idea of what is a priority. And that is normal. No one person or group in this world we live in will be satisfied totally with how government is handling certain issues. It is a fact of life in this century. That is why we have the power of voting -use the power that you have as a citizen to make a change.

A wave will settle down on the believers and non-believers that this change will be the best thing that has happened to this country and our international allies. Lots of work to be done.

On a personal note I am back in school and did pass my fall class which was for the second time around and in the middle of another one that I had to take again. A real difficult one but I have a jump start since the curriculum and textbooks are the same as last year when I took it.

My personal health is OK I am taking medications for various things which I wont divulge at this time. I am concentrating more on my health since I have gotten older,hence the diagnosis of cancer in March. My laid back attitude sometimes gets the best of me since I don't overtly show my emotions . They are automatically shifted to a safe space in my psyche for my own protection and I deal with it as I need to. Luckily I have time to set aside to deal with those issues -And I am appreciative of this time.

I have been working since I was 18 and never gave myself anytime to ponder personal issues. grieve tragic losses in my life and work on myself,emotionally ,physically and spiritually. Now I have the time and it is productive since I feel I am a much stronger person.

I am working out more at my home and at my local gym -not to the extent that I want but I know I will eventually get that level of satisfaction that I use to feel once I accomplished my goals whatever they maybe.

This my blog for the new year I will try to update this more but I am and will be busy trying to complete my master studies -so bear with me

Until next time

Captain Kirk

Looking Forward

This is turning out to be a great year -I am better this year than I have been in the previous ones

I think I might be getting closer to attaining that peace of mind that I have longed for since 2003 when everything in my life at that time unraveled . If you have been following my blogs inconsistent as they maybe ,you will know what I am refering to. I am not saying that there wont be more challenges but I do wonder if it would be better to know for the sake of preparation and bracing for the consequences from my actions and reactions Yeah I know it is psychobabble forgive me.

This year has not had any big surprising events that I can speak of . I am getting the hang of how my 5 year computer works even better than before. It could be that I spend more time online with checking and responding to my email and going to school online. My Masters will be in Information Technology which I will get from Capella University -I have at least another year to go due to failing two classes last year about this time I just finished one last month and recieved a A and now the current one willl be challenging but I know I can do it.

My family and friends have been fair,supportive and understanding that is why I know that I have had guardian angels with me since I was born. I have developed a beautiful relationship with my brother since my Mom died in 2005 and I have yet to grieve her death.

Life does suck in that you have to watch your Mom and Dad get old and eventually pass on. This is what makes us who we are today. I think if more people realized and acknowlegded this earlier in life it would be more simple? Yeah right.

As far as getting back in shape it is coming slowly but surely I am seeing my musculature coming back although I need to get rid of my spare tire I am glad to be back on track . It will be a slow crawl for me I am pacing myself and thinking long and hard about my future maybe in the next five years.

The economy doesnt have that much impact on me since I was unemployed long before it got this bad . I lost my source of transporation in 2003 so I did not get affected by the high gas prices. I depend on public transportation most of the time unless I get a ride by someone. I am not a person to ask for help unless I am in dire need of it.

The frigid temperatures has hindered my drive even more than before -challenging my low state of motivation. Inconsistency seems to be my middle name. It has been a issue in my life ever since I started working. I found out later it was from depression that has been repressed for as long as I can remember. Behavioral and cognitive therapy has been also a part of my recovery -without it I think things would be drastically different.

I will end there and let this simmer

Until next time
The Captain