Blog, Health, Resources

Surviving isolation in the era of Covid-19

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There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices. There are many good communication apps out there, the most used are Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and for Apple users, Facetime, that comes with the iPhone and iPad. We are able to see and hear our friends, constituents and family wherever we are. I think it is a great way to meet new people on some of the Singles sites and this is a wonderful way to watch and check on our beloved seniors. I find Zoom to be my preference of virtual communication, while Skype is a close second. If you do not have these apps, the links provided below will lead you to where you can download them to your devices.

These are only three of the most popular platforms used today. All of them allow for chatting as well as real time face to face communication. You can even take snapshots of your participant while conversing with them. This is a great way to get photos of your grandchildren. Some apps even allow streaming and sharing files and content between users. These are really wonderful tools to use in this time. You do not have to wait to see anyone; if you have a smartphone or iPad, you can pretty much touch base anywhere and anytime. These are only three of the most popular platforms used today. All of them allow for chatting as well as real time face to face communication. You can even take snapshots of your participant while conversing with them. This is a great way to get photos of your grandchildren. Some apps even allow streaming and sharing files and content between users. These are really wonderful tools to use in this time. You do not have to wait to see anyone; if you have a smartphone or iPad, you can pretty much touch base anywhere and anytime.

Many businesses utilize these tools for long distance meetings and conferences. This saves a lot of travel money and it is an excellent way of following the rules of distancing during the pandemic. They use more sophisticated apps such as:

Even doctors are using this to schedule and conduct doctor visits with their patients. I have conducted doctor visits with my doctors via their communication apps and find it very convenient, especially when it is just follow-ups. The doctor is able to refill and prescribe medicine to your pharmacy quickly and forward you any information that they think you need. How great is this!

Blog

The Calm Before the Storm

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Happy Days are here again, …?

The outgoing president, set the precedents to what was always there; permission to practice openly “white supremacy” and “white privilege”. He tore the clothes off of an otherwise, proud America, to the truth. America has a sickness, so before we forget, remember, Donald Trump, won 50% of the votes. His followers and supporters are many. Most voted to save “systemic racism” contrary to some repudiating this to say it was about policy. There is no way that we should be celebrating and the man has not been inaugurated yet. Lawsuits are being filed in the courts, his base is storming mad and some of them are out for blood, so we need to be on guard. Congrats to Biden, but don’t get it twisted. This is just the beginning of what may be a long recovery for the United States. Our foreign affairs are in shambles, Americans are standing in long food lines, people are infected with the covid and dying in droves and people are faced with joblessness and evictions. So why are we celebrating? We need to hope for a peaceful transition, because Donald Trump is not going to go peacefully into that good night. If four years of this administration have not taught you anything, you best know that this narcissist is going down kicking and fighting. The world is watching and they are not easily tricked to receive America with open arms. This time they will test the water before they dive in. This is the first time since before World War I, that America was an isolated nation. Our credibility has been badly tarnished during these four years.

Is this a new beginning, or is this country celebrating too soon? Yes, the electoral votes show Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the victors. We have exhaled, but how long will this peace last? The previous president, Donald Trump, has not conceded and his administration and the majority Republican senate is in agreement with him. People, we are in a dark time and racism never died. it just laid low. For four long years, this evil system was unleashed upon the African American community. Now, even the Asian community have stated they have been visited by the specter of racism. But their problems were opened to the rest of us, due to the coronavirus. For years, they were referred to as the “Model Minorities”. What a horrible awakening for those of this group to find out that they were just tolerated and just a foot on a ” banana peel” above African Americans. Privilege for minorities are a slippery slope in the eyes of the dominant society.

Celebrate the moment, but be real, this country has a lot of work ahead and it is not going to be a walk in the park.

Resources, Technology

Computer problems can be a headache; what can you do?

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Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com

Computer got you down? Or is the computer down? We all have these moments just when you need it, your computer crashes. For all the money we spend on technology, we wish our devices would last forever. But that’s just wishful thinking and nothing lasts forever. Heck, iron wears out, as my grandmother used to say.

The first thing I learned from purchasing computers for years, they eventually will need repair or replacing. That’s why I recommend buying 2-3 years of warranty, because computer repairs can be expensive. Sometimes, it can be more than what you paid for the device, making it better to buy a new one. Most warranties cover the costs of very important parts of the computer such as the hard drive, replacing worn parts from normal use. It seems that the hard drive from frequent use, will crash from no cause of your own. Malicious viruses and Trojan horse viruses and hacking can cause the drive to malfunction or crash. Not defragmenting the drive can also cause crashes since it takes longer for the drive to locate the data; scattered data across the drive slows the computer down. Eventually, you get the dreaded blue screen. The digital sign of a dead drive.

Installing a very efficient virus deterrent and cleaner such as Norton virus products and McAfee virus products can help keep most viruses from infecting your computer. Regular de-fragmenting keeps your drive workable. The drive serves as a storage and retrieval mechanism and when it is overloaded, it tends to work harder to find the data you want. The computer then slows up and makes locating the data tedious and a strain on the drive.

To learn more about your computer and how to prevent your system from crashing and protecting it from malware, you can go on YouTube and search for computer techs that deal with this issue daily. They explain clearly how and when your computer should be serviced. Many even give advice and walk you through the process.

If you want to use your computer and the hard drive is workable, you might want to purchase an external hard drive to store and backup your data just in case the main hard drive crashes. This will save you more hassle and your data will be safe. You might consider subscribing to a cloud service that you could store your data and always have access to your data wherever you are. You can also access the data on all of your devices. In fact, this is most convenient for you all the way around. You are able to use your phone as well.

Again, a computer problem is a bummer. I recommend prevention and defragmenting your computer, keep your virus program current and backup your data often.

Blog

Summer Gone So Soon

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So soon is the summer leaving us. This is the first summer that I did not go swimming, a past-time that I truly love. I think that the Covid virus has taken a toll on me. No, not my health, but my mental and well-being. This has been the saddest and unfortunate summer for everyone. I lost two beloved pets, my dog, Foxy and my cat, Lady, to devastating diseases of cancer and congestive heart failure. Although they were both very old, nevertheless, their deaths left me empty and grieving. I still have one cat, but she knows that things are not the same. Autumn lived with two other pets and now it is just her and myself. I have been more attentive to her and she to me since the others are gone.

The Swimming pools I usually swim in at home in the summer

My father and step-father also passed from diseases. My step-father died from the coronavirus and my dad, from bone cancer. My sweet nephew, buried his pet guinea pig who also died of old age. Yes. this has been the worst summer and year that I have ever experienced. The swimming pools were not crowded this year, far from the photo that was taken last summer, because everyone is effected by this god-forsaken virus. I miss seeing my neighbor tenants walking their pets in the evening. Everyone is in after dark. We live in a beautiful apartment complex in the rural-suburbs of Macomb county in Michigan. It is so strange to see my neighbors not walking or sitting on their patios and balcony after dark.

The summer was very hot this year and we have had more blue skies than we have had for the past 3 years in Michigan. It truly has been a lovely summer. But we can feel the havoc that this virus has taken on all of us. I plan to get another dog soon, but I will always remember the pain of Summer 2020. I spent more time sitting on my patio looking out on the pond than going to the pool. As I said, I have not swam at all this year. My spirit was just not up to it. Ever since I moved here, since November 2014, I looked forward to summer to swim in the 3 pools. This is a large apartment complex with over 2000 tenants. I looked forward to evening walks with my dog and sitting outside of the apartment guest house watching others swim. It is so nice watching the swans, geese and ducks swim around the ponds. And there are large bass in these ponds too. My neighbors are seen fishing. You see we have large ponds outside of our patio doors, so we can fish anytime we want without even leaving our homes. How great is that? But I only saw one or two of my neighbors sitting along the banks fishing this year. Yes. This was a beautiful summer as far as the weather, but a gloomy one otherwise.

I miss my dad and I really need to go see my mom, wearing a mask of course, since my mom is 82 years young. She does not look or act her age, but precaution is needed in this age of Covid-19. I miss my cousins, some who have passed away this year from illnesses other than Covid. I hope and pray that we will see better days. But I will concentrate on adopting another dog to give both me and my cat company and love. Be well, family!

Resources

Home Heating Credit Chart

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www.michigan.gov/taxes/iit/accordion/credits/table-b-2021-home-heating-credit-mi-1040cr-7-alternate-credit-computation

This is the alternative home CREDIT heating has been issued for 2022 for Michigan low income citizens. This is the chart that let you know whether you are income qualified. 

If you filed a 2021 tax form for Michigan before or on September 30, 2022 you should be receiving a check or direct deposit for $300-$575. If you wish to know more about this stimulus, please contact the department of treasury of Michigan . 

Blog

Bernie Sanders for President

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Third time’s a charm? 

Speculation continues to mount about President Biden’s potential re-election bid in 2024. While Biden has reportedly confirmed he will run for a second term, eyes have shifted to other possible candidates to take up the mantle for the Democrats if the president changes his mind. This would potentially open the door for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to launch a White House bid for the third time. The democratic socialist remains highly popular among the younger generations, but he is also among the eldest candidates — older even than Biden, at 81 years old. 

What are the chances that, if Biden opts out of the next campaign, an announcement could come for a Sanders 2024 run? Here’s everything you need to know.

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