Clear Cache

I have been watching Hulu on my treadmill, but sometimes I have trouble with the loading of videos. Hulu suggested clearing my cache. Before working as a help desk technician that trouble shoots computers, I had no idea what this meant.  To clear cache on Internet explorer:

Hit F12 or find the Tools, usually at the top of the screen, sometimes you have to hit the alt on the keyboard to make this appear. Then find F12 developer tools.

 

Ctrl + R or click Cache then Clear browser cache.. I also click Clear browser cache for this domain... and Clear session cookies, and Clear cookies for domain.

What is the Cache? Find out here.

Firefox:

First find Tools. If you don't see this right click with mouse at the top and click Menu Bar. Find and click Options.

Make sure you are on the Advanced Icon then click the Network tab. Select Clear Now on the Cached Web Content.

For Google chrome check out here, as I no longer have Chrome.

For the Love of Libraries

I love libraries. My dad used to take us as kids, and it blows my mind that my nieces and nephew barely go to my hometown library. It is an upgraded library from my early childhood. Yes I know it is downtown, but it has free parking.

 I have two memberships to libraries in my area. My metro area is a combination of small to medium sized towns, that all have a library. They all have their benefits. Here is my list of loves about the libraries in my area:
1. Free rental of books (obvious I know, but I seem to have to remind my kids: Why buy when we can get it for free!)
2. Free rental of video games.
3. Free rental of cake pans, great for birthday parties.
4. Free rental of movies, even Blue Rays.
5. Great place for non-profit meetings.
6. Free Digital Magazine through Zinio, plus downloadable music and books.
7. Free rental of CDs and audio books
8. Free online resources for research, even car repair
9. Contest for reading for kids and adults.
10. Other services provided by the library include adult and children’s programs, opaque projector, faxing, color photocopier, home bound delivery, test proctoring, notary public, study rooms, and viewing/listening stations.

I love how libraries are keeping up with technology, even hosting classes to help you keep up on the times. Check out your local library for what they can offer, you might be surprised.

Food for Thought: Power Outage

Here is the problem with technology: it is about as reliable as a person. I woke up this morning with no power. I wasn't sure if it was just me or if it was the neighborhood. I threw away my phone books because I never used them and they took up space. I figured I would just look up the number on the Internet if needed or through my GPS. So I don't happen to have the electric company's number memorized since remembering things isn't really my thing. I couldn't look on any bills because I have e-bills, and with no electricity there is no modem and no Internet. The electricity didn't take too long to come back on so I didn't check my GPS for a number. I don't know if I could of counted on the GPS anyways since it relies on satellite and the rain and thunder bring a lot of blocking clouds. This just brings about a lesson to have utility and emergency numbers posted on the fridge. I also only have a cell phone for a phone, but thinking about those phones that run through the Internet, those wouldn't be to helpful in a lot of emergency situations either.

No TV and I'm loving it

As a child both of my parents worked, and they worked opposite shifts to save on daycare with 3 kids. I watched a lot of TV and ate a lot of TV dinners as a kid. As I grew up I always seemed to feel better with the TV on. I would do homework in front of the TV, eat, surf the Internet, cook, babysit, fight with my boyfriend, etc. When I was in college I didn't want to pay for my own cable so I didn't have as much to watch with an antenna, but I still consistently had the TV on. So last year my husband decided we should have cable, which we have had before. Ever since the need for converter boxes, we get very poor reception in the valley where we live. We watched a lot of TV in that year, probably too much.

Last Saturday I canceled my cable and I'm loving it. I have my Internet and that is all I need. You can watch so my shows on the Internet these days it seems like such a waste to continue paying high price for cable. Now my kids watch DVDs, and I don't have to constantly monitor what is being watched ( I am not a fan of some Cartoon Network cartoons). I can watch my shows any time I want to, before I didn't splurge for the DVR and I would stay up too late watching a later show. Today my daughter is playing with her cousin and was reading him a book. This is the girl who hated to read at the beginning of first grade. I also woke up and started cleaning while listening to my Dr Joy Browne podcast. If I still had cable I'm sure I would be glued to the TV guide looking for something to entertain me. My husband still thinks we should shop around for a new package but I don't want to play the game of promotional pricing. If anything I would buy a media player once I learn more about them. My sister has also volunteered to DVR Big Brother, and I can watch a marathon when I visit her. I feel optimistic about my decision and I hope the positives of no cable continue.