Give the Gift of I.T.

Give the Gift of I.T.

Everything I.T.’s gift certificates make the perfect Christmas (or other occassion) gift for the person that is difficult to buy for, because they can be used for so many different things. If the recipient is non-technical, they can be used to set up email, for computer tutoring or training, or for remote technical assistance if they get in a jam they just can’t resolve on their own. It can be used for a computer repair, for home or business. For the more technical person, it can be used for computer hardware upgrades (for your favorite gamer) like graphic cards, hard drives, extra memory, or whatever. It can use used to help them get that website going that they know they need but haven’t been able to afford, or if they already have one, they can get upgrades to it, or even an annual maintenance contract. The best part is, …you don’t have to choose. You just chip in, purchase the gift certificate, and let them use it however they want! It’s perfect really…There are very few people who can’t find some use for it. You can purchase the gift certificate for any amount you choose, from $35 and up. ($35.00 is still the minimum 1 hour rate for any job) It’s perfect for young and old alike. I tutor students, and work with seniors, I’m very patient, and can help anyone who needs it to adapt to the technical era. Get one today!


AMOUNT (add quantity later)
Name of recipient
Recipient Mailing Address



5.3 Earthquake Today Off the Coast…

5.3 Earthquake Today Off the Coast…

You wanted to know where the earthquake was centered at, right? I did. Well, it was centered on the Island of Santa Cruz. (click header for full post to see map) My friend has a boat and often cruises out off the coast, and he took a video of the back side of the island, which has major damage, although no “people” were affected, the back side of the island broke off and fell in to to the ocean. If I can get the video link again, I will add it.

Santa Cruz 5.3 Earthquake

If you are on the west side of the VC grade, you likely felt it pretty good. The whole county felt it though, but if you were in Channel Islands, Hueneme, or Point Mugu, you probably felt it the best.

Well, now that you are here, why not look around a little? Most people need some kind of I.T. service, but they don’t think of it until something refreshes their memory. But now that you are here, do you have a computer issue that is bugging you to death, an image you want edited, a website you want created, updated, or even just maintained? How about a laptop you need repaired? Want a custom gaming computer built? Remote support available. Ethical, honest, and reliable! Give me a call. (or chat, or text, or leave a voice mail…so many ways to reach me!)

Glad the earthquake was only 5.3 and not 8.3, right? Because we would have been in serious trouble then. 🙂

Bless you all.

WordPress 4.9.5 is HERE.

Another WordPress CORE update came out yesterday, PASS IT ON! haha…

Seriously, they do come out regularly. Do you have yours set to “automatically” update. I don’t. It’s probably more work the way I do it, because I do full file and database backup before updating the core files, …and while I have never needed that backup yet, it’s just my luck that the second I stop backing up first, an update will surely bring down my site and I won’t have the means to restore it, so my “automatic” feature, is turned off. How about you? Do you do your own? Do you have someone else do them? Do you ignore them altogether? (We do have an annual service that is very reasonable if you want them done “for” you…with backups first. Just get a hold of me on the contact page, or chat, or voicemail, or however you like really.

Anyway, back to the update. This update fixes 28 bugs, and some major security updates.

WordPress versions 4.9.4 and earlier are affected by three security issues. As part of the core team’s ongoing commitment to security hardening, the following fixes have been implemented in 4.9.5:

  1. Don’t treat localhost as same host by default.
  2. Use safe redirects when redirecting the login page if SSL is forced.
  3. Make sure the version string is correctly escaped for use in generator tags.

Twenty-five other bugs were fixed in WordPress 4.9.5. Particularly of note were:

  • The previous styles on caption shortcodes have been restored.
  • Cropping on touch screen devices is now supported.
  • A variety of strings such as error messages have been updated for better clarity.
  • The position of an attachment placeholder during uploads has been fixed.
  • Custom nonce functionality in the REST API JavaScript client has been made consistent throughout the code base.
  • Improved compatibility with PHP 7.2.  (Aaron D. Campbell, 4-3-2018, “WordPress 4.9.5 Security and Maintenance Release” )

If you want to read the full Release Notes, you can read those here: https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/04/03/wordpress-4-9-5/

If you subscribe to my blog, or my facebook page, I do try to put out a notice for all “important” WordPress updates and/or changes, so follow if it makes life easier for you. 🙂

What is a CPE?

Ok, I had a potential client call me this morning, and ask me if was familiar with 5ghz CPE. I wasn’t at home or near computer when she called, and as soon as I indicated I didn’t have 100% knowledge on the subject she hung up. Big mistake on her part. Folks, it’s a COMMON marketing ploy to take an age old technology, wrap it in a new box (i.e.: …give it a new name) and hope that the general public is dumb enough not to recognize it and pay the 250% markup they are hoping to get on it. I get so tired of it really. It started with “THE CLOUD” …remember when that term was new? How many of you were, or maybe still are, confused the “The Cloud” …big clue…the “CLOUD” …is just another term for the internet, and internet related products and services. Stuff stored “in the cloud” …is not all that mysterious. This is only 2018 and everything has a PHYSICAL location. Someone, somewhere, has a data center, and you connect to it through the internet, and that’s the cloud.

OK, so back the CPE thing: CPE stands for “CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT” …it’s equipment, owned by your internet (or other) service provider, and located on your premises. Pretty lame huh? Basically, a 5Ghz CPE is a “mysterious” nomenclature for a N-band router. (even more lame now that you know, right?) …oh, not just any router, a router owned by your service provider, located on a customer’s premises. I rolled over laughing hysterically when I looked this up ….and I see that the term is actually being used more and more often now. Like this one I saw at on a Fry’s electronics ad today: https://www.frys.com/product/9226939?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG …it’s an outdoor wifi repeater/range extender/switch unit thingy that sends the wifi signal from your house (indoors) …to your outdoors area. I guess you must have to have a very big house to need one of these, because my standard router sends a signal that I can reach out in my carport, and a good 500 yards away from my door. (or more, I never actually measured it as I drove away, but I would not have a need for this device)

If you want some info on the 5Ghz signal (wifi) …this is a pretty good page: https://www.howtogeek.com/222249/whats-the-difference-between-2.4-ghz-and-5-ghz-wi-fi-and-which-should-you-use/

Do you think I’m making this up? I’m seriously not. Read here: https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/CPE-device

Intel Processor Vulnerability to slow down all Intel PCs as much as 30%

This is huge…if you have ever followed updates you know that the kernel often has holes plugged, but apparently this vulnerability is huge. Clearly to properly fix a hardware vulnerability properly requires a hardware upgrade. But operating system updates can address it. But the kernel is addressed so frequently that this type of fix will significantly slow down all computers. This new vulnerability, which is being kept hush-hush until it’s all been patched, affects ALL computers and laptops with Intel processors, whether they are Windows, Mac, or Linux based. Yes, that’s right…since Apple always has what has previously been the best hardware, they are also affected on this one. This vulnerability affects all Intel-based PC’s going back 10 years. I’ve read in some places that some newest processors may not be as affected “quite” as much, i.e. the slowdown won’t be as dramatic, but they are all affected. This is a sad day. I know I’m sad. I can’t afford to upgrade hardware, I just built my current rig about a year ago. Upgrading a processor usually requires a new motherboard also, unless you just got one maybe. Anyway, if you look on the web, you will see many articles on this subject, all them current news. I’ll give you some for some reading if you are concerned. Even though the specifics of the vulnerability won’t be released until the patch is out, they have said that it’s a memory leak…so basically it would give hackers the ability to read data, but not to write, delete, or modify it. (whatever comfort that may be) …I’m wondering if simple encryption helps in this case. ??? What say you?

Tech Republic

PC World

Tech Crunch

PC Word gets Intel’s Response to the news

5.3 Earthquake Today Off the Coast…

Holiday Days and Hours Update

The office will be closed from December 22nd until Jan 2nd, although I could be available as early as December 30th. Leaving town for Christmas. Although ALL remote services will still be available. I’m just not taking any jobs that require me “physically” being there, or any equipment/laptop drop-offs. I will however have a computer with me, and will answer all emails and texts, and will be able to perform any remote services, like Windows issues, Website issues, etc. …any of the things I would normally do remotely. So please don’t hesitate to call just because the hours say closed, there was no field to add an explanation on Yelp or Facebook. 

FROM EVERYTHING I.T.!