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Random thoughts, life lessons, hopes and dreams.

Fighting Technology — CFFC

Dan Antion
2 minutes
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In addition to managing a work-in-progress and working through a laundry list of tasks necessary for a typical New England winter — I say typical because recent winters have been milder than normal — I’ve been battling technology. Yes, yes, I know, that’s supposed to be my forte. Well, even mechanics’ cars break down sometimes.

I won’t bore you with the technical details, but I had an unsuccessful encounter with tech support at a cloud storage company I rely on. After almost three weeks of arguing with a recalcitrant technical team, I removed all of my files and I am currently in the process of rebuilding the storage from backup files.

Here are two tips:

  1. Always have a backup.
  2. Stop putting off that goal of better organizing the files you plan on keeping.

My rebuilding effort is taking longer than expected because I am finally organizing my files in the configuration that I meant to do after retiring.

Today, I’ve accomplished enough and I’m going to take some time to join Cee for her weekly Fun Foto Challenge.

The topic this week is Fairly modern homes and apartments. Please feel free to use either new or archived photos for this challenge. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with. Be creative and have fun with this challenge.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

Let’s see what we can find in the gallery. Note: some of these are new versions of older buildings. I like seeing old buildings repurposed for new life.

The bunny doesn’t have to go to far to eat. He lives under there.
I think this has been divided into apartments
Apartments. I like that they kept the original doors when they renovated the building.
The Montgomery Mill has been repurposed as apartments and is now almost fully rented.
Apartments
These apartments are being built behind the freight depot
New lofts and apartments in between the east and west armories at the north end.
Bushnell Tower
Bushnell Tower
NYC west side railyard
NYC west side railyard, taken from the High Line in 2015
We been walking through this construction site since October.
Hudson Yards retail and residential building
Bushnell on the Park.
Some construction going on, but I wanted to include a flag
Books on Gateway Clipper

Knuckleheads — The Evil You Choose — When Evil Chooses You — Secrets held Against Evil

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

61 responses to “Fighting Technology — CFFC”

  1. kzmcb Avatar
    kzmcb

    I hear you, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks!

      Like

      Reply
  2. restlessjo Avatar
    restlessjo

    Technology is my nightmare, Dan, and I’m the world’s worst ‘putter off-er’. You wouldn’t want to see my photo files. Good luck!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Don’t be too hard on yourself, Jo. I think we all tend to procrastinate around organizing photos. After my mother died in 2017 we found a big box of photos. I think my brother is still sorting through it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. hilarymb Avatar
    hilarymb

    Hi Dan – definitely a reminder for me … keep on sorting and storing where you want things – all the best … some of those apartment doors would be good to walk through. Happy week – cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Hilary. I’m not sure I’ll ever finish. The previous system wasn’t great, but the in-transition state is even worse.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Oddment Avatar
    Oddment

    The bunny’s home is timeless, yes? Always modern and traditional both! These modern buildings are nice enough, but I can’t say that I want to stop by for peach cobbler; they don’t look very homey. I’d love to give you helpful advice for your tech problems, but I can’t even type that with a straight face. High tech to me is still the mimeo machine.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      New technology, like those new buildings, is fast and efficient, but the pages don’t have that signature smell when they’re ready to read.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Dave Astor Avatar
    Dave Astor

    Sorry about your tech issues, Dan. And those are excellent photos, although older architecture usually trumps (“harrises”?) newer architecture in terms of looks.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Dave. I like it when they renovate an old building rather than tear it down and build new.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Dave Astor Avatar
        Dave Astor

        Me, too!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  6. Rivergirl Avatar
    Rivergirl

    Sorry you’re having to deal with all that extra computer work. That’s beyond annoying…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      It’s never a good time for stuff like this, but now is particularly bad timing. Did you see I included a bunny house?

      Like

      Reply
      1. Rivergirl Avatar
        Rivergirl

        I did, thank you. Though WP has decided I’m not allowed to enlarge the image this morning.
        🥴

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Dan Antion Avatar
          Dan Antion

          Ugh

          Like

          Reply
  7. GP Avatar
    GP

    You know I don’t like modern, so I would pick the 170 Allyn apt.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Good choice, GP. Recently rebuilt, but a very nice old building.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Judy@NewEnglandGardenAndThread Avatar
    Judy@NewEnglandGardenAndThread

    Your post and photos are timely since just a few miles north of here there were some snow flurries overnight, and we have so many apartments being built it amazes me. One large building is literally right next to the Downeaster tracks down by the train station. I cannot imagine living in the apartments that border the track. I need to stop and take a photo. :-) As for your technical issues, I know you’ll get it done while the rest of us would still be spinning our wheels trying to understand what we might need to do. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      The apartments in the left side of the third row are directly behind the railroad tracks. AMTRAK, CT Rail and a few freight trains run up and down every day. I think there are 18 scheduled trains (they come through our town as well) in addition to the freight. They’re improving the tracks so they can handle more traffic.

      The problems caused by the technical issue have been solved, but the fallout lingers. I didn’t lose anything, I just have to work on getting things where they need to be,

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Murphy's Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    First, I have to say kudos to Dave Astor for his clever comment!

    I’m sorry for all the technical mishmash you’re going through, but it sounds like a blessing in disguise that your files will finally get organized!

    Very happy to see so many repurposed buildings, but I agree with Maureen, they don’t look very user friendly. But at least they’re still up and running!

    Ginger🦋

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Somewhere along the line, we lost sight of the value of a nice porch, Ginger.

      The technical issues will take some time to work out, but at least I didn’t lose anything. Some files ended up where they don’t belong, but I can fix that (given enough time).

      Dave always has a clever comment.

      Like

      Reply
  10. Sherry Felix Avatar
    Sherry Felix

    I’m curious about what company you use. I use Backblaze. Plus a have a couple of large backup drives. Glad you got your stuff back.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      This problem was with Box. I also have 1tb of storage with Microsoft. It works very well and is reliable but Box has a very cool feature OneDrive doesn’t. Unfortunately, across free and paid users, Box’s technical support averages 1.4 out of 5 stars.

      Like

      Reply
  11. circadianreflections Avatar
    circadianreflections

    What a job! I don’t envy you doing that one. Early on when I switched to digital cameras I started my filing system for images like my filing system for work. One big folder for the year and in it sub folders named for the place I was photographing. I’m still using that system all these years later.

    For backup I have a cloud based firm and an external drive here at home both backing up my stuff daily because I’m usually working on images daily. Backup is a MUST! Best of luck with your storage organization, Dan. I hope you’re nearly or are done soon.

    I really liked that first building with the red brick and rows of windows two of which are bay windows in each row. That’s lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Deborah. My photos are backed up and stored by month and event. The photos in the cloud are the ones for blog posts, book covers and trailers and graphics. They’re badly organized because it was all new to me. So, after one book, I made changes. After two books, I made more. I need for them all to be consistent.

      Like

      Reply
  12. marianallen Avatar
    marianallen

    Modern architecture — ugh! I like that second one with the mild gingerbread and the tower-ish outset. I’ve been pretty much Among the Missing lately — the upcoming election has me internet-shy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      In catching up slowly.

      Like

      Reply
  13. lois Avatar
    lois

    Detail is my name; organizing is my game. My files and photos are organized (and backed up) to within an inch of their lives. I gotta have it that way.

    Hudson Yards looks really cool. So many apartments…down here the big thing is single-family cookie-cutter homes with zero yards. I would go nuts in a place like that. If nothing else, I need to be able to walk around the yard and prune back a branch or two.

    The railyard photo…that is the tops of the trains? Very cool photo, Dan!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Lois. I should be so organized. There was a pattern to these files, but it evolved and I always wanted to go back and make it consistent over time.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. John W. Howell Avatar
    John W. Howell

    Great photos of apartments. I like the idea of repurposing buildings. That Hudson Yard group looks great.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks John. It is a beautiful area. One of many in NYC where I can’t afford to live 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. John W. Howell Avatar
        John W. Howell

        Yes there are many. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  15. John Hric Avatar
    John Hric

    Technology is our friend… when it works. Considering that technology is complex and and a constantly changing web of interlocking parts sometimes it is amazing that it works at all.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      It truly is, John.

      Like

      Reply
  16. Teagan Riordain Geneviene Avatar
    Teagan Riordain Geneviene

    That was an awful experience for you, Dan. You get an A+ for perseverance.

    I love the exterior of the building in your header image, and the 170 Allyn must be a cool place. Have a great new week. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Teagan. You and I were going through parallel frustrations for a while. I forget what comedian it was who would say, “There’s nothing like good customer service and this was nothing like good customer service.”

      I like both of those buildings. I hope you have a good week, too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. dweezer19 Avatar
    dweezer19

    Good luck with the reorganization, Dan. With the rains slowing here I’ve been at garden work and cleaning up. Great city shots.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Cheryl. We haven’t had rain here in a long time. We’re working outside, but taking things down, bagging them and putting them at the curb.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com Avatar
    Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com

    Yikes! Although I think I’m relatively okay backup-wise, I guess I won’t really know unless there is a problem (I first wrote “until” but decided not to tempt fate). I do have way too many pictures on my phone, though. I need to get them transferred to my desktop and then back them up on my external hard drive so thanks for the reminder.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Yes, “unless” is better than “until” in this case. My phone wasn’t involved in this mess, but that is a good reminder.

      Like

      Reply
  19. quiall Avatar
    quiall

    We may complain about technology, I know I do but without technology we would be living in caves an eating unspiced food. Sobering thought.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Technology provided my livelihood for 42 years, so I can’t complain. In this case, the problem with the technology was minor compared to the problem with the technical support team. They kept asking the same questions and then transferring me to a new person who asked all the same questions. They never answered my question.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Author Jan Sikes Avatar
    Author Jan Sikes

    I use Dropbox for a lot of my file storage. I hope that isn’t the one you are dealing with! I love the doors to that apartment building. A very cool vibe!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      I am using Box, and also OneDrive. They have both been very reliable, but technical support from Box was awful.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. Kirt D Tisdale Avatar
    Kirt D Tisdale

    Bummer with the tech issues….that kind of stuff drives me crazy!! Great pics though…thanks for sharing!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Kirt. This drives me crazy, too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. Liz Gauffreau Avatar
    Liz Gauffreau

    I am long-overdue to do the file organization you describe. Groan . . .

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      I’m sorry, Liz. As I got to the end of each book, files, especially the graphics involved in making the cover and the marketing files. really became a mess. I always tell myself I’ll clean that up, but something always gets in the way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Liz Gauffreau Avatar
        Liz Gauffreau

        I hear that!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  23. memadtwo Avatar
    memadtwo

    I have a cloud back up, but I also back everything up on a portable drive, which I update a couple times a year. I lost everything early on in my computer days on a computer that died.

    I have a long way to go with my organization though. I should have been organizing from the beginning, but who knew? I have at least photographed all my art, and that’s a start.

    Good luck! I’m sure you’ll be more successful than I. (K)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      At least you have the backup. I didn’t lose anything, I just don’t like where it is. It’s like if you empty the kitchen drawers and have to put the stuff back.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. memadtwo Avatar
        memadtwo

        A thankless task.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  24. Tails Around the Ranch Avatar
    Tails Around the Ranch

    When you said ‘fighting technology’ my eye started to twitch uncontrollably. Glad you’re winning the war, one battle at a time. The only way my eye stopped twitching was to savor the great gallery. Well done-all around, Dan.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      Thanks Monika. I didn’t lose anything. So that much is good.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Tails Around the Ranch Avatar
        Tails Around the Ranch

        That’s good news! Yay.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  25. D. Wallace Peach Avatar
    D. Wallace Peach

    I’m not a techy person, Dan, so when things go wrong, they go wrong! It’s too bad when “support” is less than supportive. Sounds like you have a plan though. And I enjoyed the photos (a trip down memory lane for a lot of them). :-)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      More like a Plan-B, Diana, but it worked. Their tech-support is awful. I’m glad you liked the pictures.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  26. Jennie Avatar
    Jennie

    Oh no! It the techy part of your back-up was hard for you, then we all know it was really, really hard. I enjoyed the photos, especially the building that retained its original doors.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Dan Antion Avatar
      Dan Antion

      The hard part was trying to get tech-support to listen. They never did. After almost three weeks, I had to delete all the files, reset the storage and start over.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Jennie Avatar
        Jennie

        My head is spinning at this, but you did it!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  27. robertawrites235681907 Avatar
    robertawrites235681907

    Hi Dan, I was in the process of removing my photographs and some other written work from my old computer to my new one, when the old computer crashed. Hubby took it to a shop where they said they could restore the hard drive and get it working. Instead they wiped the memory and got it working. So frustrating as all my stuff is lost and I didn’t need the computer because I have three others.

    Like

    Reply

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