Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
Justin Trudeau’s comical use of words in a tragic time
What a Hoot! The truth is finally out. The Members of Parliament are spreading manure within the House of Commons – our Canadian Government’s top place of making the best and biggest decisions that affect all of our lives.
What am I talking about? Well yesterday Mr. Justin Trudeau finally had enough and he said the word “S-H-I-T” in the House of Commons! Go figure. The son of the man that claimed to have said “Fuddle Duddle” in the same politically charged room.
In later interviews with reporters he claimed that he lost his temper and had enough of the Conservative Party’s method, statements and actions. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had just been listening to Peter Kent, the MP from Winnipeg, Manitoba area describe in a condescending way that another MP wouldn’t have even asked a question if she would have been at the Durban Conference in South Africa.
From what was reported in a number of sources the Conservative Party, also known as the Majority Government of Canada, blocked all the other party members from attending the Conference. So Mr. Kent’s answer to the MP’s question was anything but fair. He wouldn’t let her go and then chided her for asking questions about it.
Worse yet… or I should say… further to this… the Majority Government pulled out of any agreement affecting climate and all things Global Warming. It seems that the Majority Government has made its mind up. Because it is a majority and it is all powerful – it has declared that there is no such thing as Global Warming – the issue is dead and the rest of the “opposition” in our Parliament needs to get over it!
Mr. Justin Trudeau has said a nasty word that many people use when they are frustrated – S-H-I-T!
Now granted he could have used “CRAP” which might have been more tolerable. Or he could have used the word “FECES”, or “STOOL”, or maybe “Fertilizer”… or maybe “Male Bovine Excrement” (my favorite). But all of these and more are too hard to use when S-H-I-T is shorter, smaller and seems to be picked up better by the sound system of the House of Commons.
Justin Trudeau has simply said what most of the Canadians outside of the House of Commons think about what happens inside – all the time! Shame on you Justin for letting our secret out of the bag!!
In the push to get things done the Majority Government formed by the Conservatives pushed through a huge bunch of legislation like a steam roller just before they break for Christmas. It has been frustrating for Justin Trudeau as well as anyone that is not Conservative.
There was no way that the parties that are not the majority party could raise any questions or have any points brought forward at all. The Majority Conservatives don’t want to listen – they simply must have it their way.
One Bill that was passed in a hurry was dealing with a great number of Crime items and how we deal with B-A-D People. The Majority Government is getting real tough on Crime and Criminals. They know what is B-E-S-T!
Last week as I visited the Millhaven Institution and listened at length to the folk that work there. They presented how the Correctional Services Canada – CSC is dealing with the Criminals coming into the system. They told of they struggled to house the offenders that are coming in and the difficulty that the whole system is having with the increase of the numbers being housed in Prisons of Canada.
It appears that the Tough on Crime idea that our Majority Government is pushing forward is working. More men and women are not getting out. There is less and less chance of men coming home the way that they used to.
But no new prisons have been built. The numbers are rising. And when that happens the dangerous criminals are forced into the same sized cell that housed one person before… there are now two men using that space. In some cases three men are using the same sized space. Double bunking and triple bunking are now almost complete. When will four people in one small room that is six feet wide and 8 feet long… happen?
Oh – did you know that all budgets are being cut back to save the Majority Government money?
So in one area that I do know about… more men and women are coming into prison with the Tough on Crime policy and less and less are getting out… and no new Prisons are being built. Hmmm?
When will the first riots begin? And who will be fired for letting the riots take place? B-U-T how many will die in the riots that may come?
How soon will the “Hep C” and other sicknesses that are a problem now… evident in many places… become the greatest tragedy of all times?
B-U-T when you are Majority and you K-N-O-W B-E-S-T… that really doesn’t matter at all. It was the other Governments before this majority one that caused all the problems! E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E knows that.
Justin you are young. You don’t always think before you speak. But unless someone like you will stand up and says it like it is… there will be a tragedy coming soon like we can hardly imagine.
Oh C-R-A-P, F-E-C-E-S, S-T-O-O-L, F-E-R-T-I-L-I-Z-E-R, or plain old MBExcrement – you shouldn’t say S-H-I-T in Parliament!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20111214/trudeau-justin-house-of-commons-insult-111214/
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Junior Cobb and Me and the Wood Pile
Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
Junior Cobb and Me and the Wood Pile
As I read the account today of Junior Cobb I shuddered a little. I think every older wood carver did as well.
Junior was 70 when he passed away. He had been deeply affected with a stroke. The short few words on the Web Site about him states it simply..
“Junior has suffered a stroke
that required quadruple by-pass heart surgery.
The stroke left him blind and partially paralyzed.
He can no longer carve.”
Then he died.
Yikes – what a wake up call for me!
You can read more about Junior Cobb with the Links shown below. He was truly an amazing man. Even though he was unable to read and write, he still was able to support his family and raise 5 kids. His only means of support was wood carving and perhaps the residuals that came with his popularity of being a “Mountain Man” in the Ozarks.
A wake up call for me for sure. I have mountains of wood to carve and not nearly enough time to carve it. I am three years behind Junior Cobb in age and am looking at the end sooner than later.
When I was 20 years old the end was much later – but at 67 it is closer now.
In the days to come I have to start sorting a whole lot more and dumping more too. That may be my Christmas present to my wife – clean the garage and get rid of the junk! I can see her grinning from ear to ear now.
In the last few days I did begin the process. The garage is much cleaner now, at least for a few days. A young fellow came to shoot video of me in my shop. It is to be shown in the New Year as part of a promotion. (Lots of fun… that story is coming later).
The clean up for this video took two day’s work. I looked up at the rest of the garage and kind of shuddered. It will take major miracle to get me moving on this one – but it is going to happen starting in January!
How can that be? Well I am going to keep Junior Cobb’s story front and center in my mind. He will be my new motivation. Being popular enough to have the media come to do stories on you is not going to hold back the aging.
I would far rather be in charge of getting rid of what I don’t need than be sitting in a wheel chair and not able to tell them what I feel as they chuck out my junk (good stuff).
Yep. That will be Alida’s Christmas present this year! Either “Carve it now” or “Throw it out!” What I intended to do will become what I am doing – or it will be gone!
I thank Junior Cobb for doing that much for me. He has motivated me to carve it now… before it is too late.
My hat also goes off to an amazing wood carver that changed much of his world with simple carvings.
Thanks Junior – I got the message!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource:
http://cobbsasser.com/vCobbJunior.html
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/81af3d5531704acb804257a0142ddd62/AR--Obit-Wood-Carver/
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
Junior Cobb and Me and the Wood Pile
As I read the account today of Junior Cobb I shuddered a little. I think every older wood carver did as well.
Junior was 70 when he passed away. He had been deeply affected with a stroke. The short few words on the Web Site about him states it simply..
“Junior has suffered a stroke
that required quadruple by-pass heart surgery.
The stroke left him blind and partially paralyzed.
He can no longer carve.”
Then he died.
Yikes – what a wake up call for me!
You can read more about Junior Cobb with the Links shown below. He was truly an amazing man. Even though he was unable to read and write, he still was able to support his family and raise 5 kids. His only means of support was wood carving and perhaps the residuals that came with his popularity of being a “Mountain Man” in the Ozarks.
A wake up call for me for sure. I have mountains of wood to carve and not nearly enough time to carve it. I am three years behind Junior Cobb in age and am looking at the end sooner than later.
When I was 20 years old the end was much later – but at 67 it is closer now.
In the days to come I have to start sorting a whole lot more and dumping more too. That may be my Christmas present to my wife – clean the garage and get rid of the junk! I can see her grinning from ear to ear now.
In the last few days I did begin the process. The garage is much cleaner now, at least for a few days. A young fellow came to shoot video of me in my shop. It is to be shown in the New Year as part of a promotion. (Lots of fun… that story is coming later).
The clean up for this video took two day’s work. I looked up at the rest of the garage and kind of shuddered. It will take major miracle to get me moving on this one – but it is going to happen starting in January!
How can that be? Well I am going to keep Junior Cobb’s story front and center in my mind. He will be my new motivation. Being popular enough to have the media come to do stories on you is not going to hold back the aging.
I would far rather be in charge of getting rid of what I don’t need than be sitting in a wheel chair and not able to tell them what I feel as they chuck out my junk (good stuff).
Yep. That will be Alida’s Christmas present this year! Either “Carve it now” or “Throw it out!” What I intended to do will become what I am doing – or it will be gone!
I thank Junior Cobb for doing that much for me. He has motivated me to carve it now… before it is too late.
My hat also goes off to an amazing wood carver that changed much of his world with simple carvings.
Thanks Junior – I got the message!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource:
http://cobbsasser.com/vCobbJunior.html
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/81af3d5531704acb804257a0142ddd62/AR--Obit-Wood-Carver/
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
A Day of Celebration for the “Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy”
Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
A Day of Celebration for the “Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy”
Today’s post is my email to Jeff Leal, our Ontario Provincial Parliament member. Jeff was reelected this past October 2011.
Today is a Celebration Day for the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy. In 2008 I founded this organization along with my faithful friends and supporters in the Peterborough area. Since that time it has grown to be a Province wide support group. Today our Blog reached the Number 1000 post… and prayer level.
My Email to Jeff Leal’s Office and the support staff at the Peterborough riding office.
Good morning Jeff and staff.
Today is a special day for me and the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy. Today is the Number 1000 Post to our Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy Blog http://prayforleaderstoday.blogspot.com/
Three years ago when the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy was launched our goal then was to motivate as many people in Ontario as possible to do one special thing. That something special was to support all of our leaders in the Ontario Provincial Parliament - Queen's Park through prayer.
With this posting today we have also reached other levels in our work and ministry as well. There has been 14,853 visitors to the Blog and 25,057 pages read over in these three years.
We are also aware that many more than the "computer savy" folk are following the Ontario Leaders. An even greater number follow the TV and Cable Programs each time they are available. In my presentations about our Chaplaincy work I have encouraged our older audiences to make a point of following what is happening with our leaders.
The other day we all watched you explain many good things about Peterborough and specially the Home Hardware of Lansdowne Street. That was fun for our Peterborough followers!
However there is no way to know the exact number that are supporting in prayer. The support base is across many denominations and people groups.
Our original goal was to motivate and have 5000 people per day. That goal remains in the forefront of what we do.
A side note - at the same time I launched the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy I also launched "Misty Hollow Carving". It is now growing toward a more diversified company which is "Misty Hollow".
Both the Chaplaincy and the entrepreneurial work necessary for "Misty Hollow", keeps me very busy. Added to that, I volunteer with our Federal Parole Office and all that it does in our community as the Chair for the CAC.
Actually I am almost too busy and not able to attend some of the Parliamentary sessions in Toronto. But that too is one of my other goals to accomplish soon on a regular basis.
My hope and prayer for you and your staff this week and season is that you would be greatly blessed in every way. Merry Christmas to all of you! And THANK YOU for all that you do for our Community and our Province!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Note to my readers – wherever you are located.
To celebrate with me wherever you are in the world, please call your local, elected leader and tell them how much you appreciate them. If you are a person that believes in prayer, why not pray for your leader and then let them know you are supporting them.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
A Day of Celebration for the “Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy”
Today’s post is my email to Jeff Leal, our Ontario Provincial Parliament member. Jeff was reelected this past October 2011.
Today is a Celebration Day for the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy. In 2008 I founded this organization along with my faithful friends and supporters in the Peterborough area. Since that time it has grown to be a Province wide support group. Today our Blog reached the Number 1000 post… and prayer level.
My Email to Jeff Leal’s Office and the support staff at the Peterborough riding office.
Good morning Jeff and staff.
Today is a special day for me and the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy. Today is the Number 1000 Post to our Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy Blog http://prayforleaderstoday.blogspot.com/
Three years ago when the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy was launched our goal then was to motivate as many people in Ontario as possible to do one special thing. That something special was to support all of our leaders in the Ontario Provincial Parliament - Queen's Park through prayer.
With this posting today we have also reached other levels in our work and ministry as well. There has been 14,853 visitors to the Blog and 25,057 pages read over in these three years.
We are also aware that many more than the "computer savy" folk are following the Ontario Leaders. An even greater number follow the TV and Cable Programs each time they are available. In my presentations about our Chaplaincy work I have encouraged our older audiences to make a point of following what is happening with our leaders.
The other day we all watched you explain many good things about Peterborough and specially the Home Hardware of Lansdowne Street. That was fun for our Peterborough followers!
However there is no way to know the exact number that are supporting in prayer. The support base is across many denominations and people groups.
Our original goal was to motivate and have 5000 people per day. That goal remains in the forefront of what we do.
A side note - at the same time I launched the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy I also launched "Misty Hollow Carving". It is now growing toward a more diversified company which is "Misty Hollow".
Both the Chaplaincy and the entrepreneurial work necessary for "Misty Hollow", keeps me very busy. Added to that, I volunteer with our Federal Parole Office and all that it does in our community as the Chair for the CAC.
Actually I am almost too busy and not able to attend some of the Parliamentary sessions in Toronto. But that too is one of my other goals to accomplish soon on a regular basis.
My hope and prayer for you and your staff this week and season is that you would be greatly blessed in every way. Merry Christmas to all of you! And THANK YOU for all that you do for our Community and our Province!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Note to my readers – wherever you are located.
To celebrate with me wherever you are in the world, please call your local, elected leader and tell them how much you appreciate them. If you are a person that believes in prayer, why not pray for your leader and then let them know you are supporting them.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Police Dog’s Confusion – Where do you bite?
Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
A Police Dog’s Confusion – Where do you bite?
The theory is that when the Full Moon is out – so are all the crazies. Over the years I have witnessed that theory. And in the story I read today that is very true that one can imagine.
In California a man stole a vehicle. The vehicle wasn’t just any vehicle, it was a luxury one. Can you imagine trying to get away with a stretch limousine and it was a Hummer to boot!?
Now ad one more factor to this story. It is at night and with this guy’s area of expertise of car theft he chooses to do so when a Police Helicopter is on patrol. Police Helicopters have these huge and very bright lights on them shining down so they can follow the stolen car or the person running from the police.
Now add one more silly thing to this story that happens on a Full Moon Night, the dude is completely naked while driving the Hummer.
The Police chasing him didn’t know that part of the equation when they followed him for the 30 some miles in hot pursuit.
His nakedness was discovered by two beings as he exited the Hummer on a dead run.
One being was the camera operator onboard the helicopter. The other being was the Police Dog who was immediately in hot pursuit of this fast moving and sweaty car thief.
As I listened to the camera operator onboard the helicopter his explanation almost has a “grin” in it!
From the view in the helicopter you cannot hear what the dog must have been saying – with a BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE! You can only imagine.
Now remember that it is a Full Moon.
And remember that Police Dogs are smart.
And you should probably remember how Police Dogs are trained. They usually take down a fully clothed and well padded man. As he runs they catch up to their “thief” and grab the arm hanging down with one snap of the white fangs, dragging the guy to the ground.
Now use your imagination as the poor Police Dog realizes that this dude he is chasing is naked and running fast. My imagination runs wild here.
The Police Dog is going fast and then turns to his master and asks the question simply, “Now what? What do you want me to bite first? NO WAY! You have got to be kidding!!!?” and so on….
Take a look at Naked Man Fleeing Hummer Caught By Police Dog
This story and short video made my day. I think that the Dog is grinning from ear to ear now. He is wagging his tail in pure delight as he tells his Cop friends how much fun he had on this Full Moon.
There is a show on TV from time to time that describe the World’s Dumbest Criminals. The Dude with the new teeth marks on his body has to rank up there with some of the dumbest ever.
Too darn funny…
Think about it… what was the Dog imagining as he caught site of the white flash of skin just ahead of him. I did… and I know the Dog said, “I can’t wait to tell my Grandkids about this one…BUTTOCKS – Hokey Mokey!!!!”
Sorry. I offer apologies to all my serious readers. This one was just too good to leave alone!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource:
Naked Man Fleeing Hummer Caught By Police Dog
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
A Police Dog’s Confusion – Where do you bite?
The theory is that when the Full Moon is out – so are all the crazies. Over the years I have witnessed that theory. And in the story I read today that is very true that one can imagine.
In California a man stole a vehicle. The vehicle wasn’t just any vehicle, it was a luxury one. Can you imagine trying to get away with a stretch limousine and it was a Hummer to boot!?
Now ad one more factor to this story. It is at night and with this guy’s area of expertise of car theft he chooses to do so when a Police Helicopter is on patrol. Police Helicopters have these huge and very bright lights on them shining down so they can follow the stolen car or the person running from the police.
Now add one more silly thing to this story that happens on a Full Moon Night, the dude is completely naked while driving the Hummer.
The Police chasing him didn’t know that part of the equation when they followed him for the 30 some miles in hot pursuit.
His nakedness was discovered by two beings as he exited the Hummer on a dead run.
One being was the camera operator onboard the helicopter. The other being was the Police Dog who was immediately in hot pursuit of this fast moving and sweaty car thief.
As I listened to the camera operator onboard the helicopter his explanation almost has a “grin” in it!
From the view in the helicopter you cannot hear what the dog must have been saying – with a BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE! You can only imagine.
Now remember that it is a Full Moon.
And remember that Police Dogs are smart.
And you should probably remember how Police Dogs are trained. They usually take down a fully clothed and well padded man. As he runs they catch up to their “thief” and grab the arm hanging down with one snap of the white fangs, dragging the guy to the ground.
Now use your imagination as the poor Police Dog realizes that this dude he is chasing is naked and running fast. My imagination runs wild here.
The Police Dog is going fast and then turns to his master and asks the question simply, “Now what? What do you want me to bite first? NO WAY! You have got to be kidding!!!?” and so on….
Take a look at Naked Man Fleeing Hummer Caught By Police Dog
This story and short video made my day. I think that the Dog is grinning from ear to ear now. He is wagging his tail in pure delight as he tells his Cop friends how much fun he had on this Full Moon.
There is a show on TV from time to time that describe the World’s Dumbest Criminals. The Dude with the new teeth marks on his body has to rank up there with some of the dumbest ever.
Too darn funny…
Think about it… what was the Dog imagining as he caught site of the white flash of skin just ahead of him. I did… and I know the Dog said, “I can’t wait to tell my Grandkids about this one…BUTTOCKS – Hokey Mokey!!!!”
Sorry. I offer apologies to all my serious readers. This one was just too good to leave alone!
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource:
Naked Man Fleeing Hummer Caught By Police Dog
Sunday, December 11, 2011
The Face of a Stranger
Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
The Face of a Stranger
The Friday afternoon we met was cool. But we were inside with the cool wind and the snow falling outside not affecting what we both felt. Even though the meeting was very short neither of us will forget the look on the each other’s face. At least I will not.
A very few seconds but yet a lifetime. A small moment but yet it was life changing for me – forever.
I will call him “Jim” – yet I do not know his real name. The only identifying thing I know about him was the sign that was stuck to the outside of the door, “handcuff behind the back”.
Where did I meet Jim? It was inside Millhaven Penitentiary near Bath Ontario. And at the moment that Jim and I met we were both in the segregation unit of this prison. I was standing outside his small cell. The large steel door was closed but the small window at my eye level was open. The window was about 4 inches wide and 10 inches high and Jim’s face appeared framed in that window as he watched us stand outside his cell.
Our small group was likely the only human contact he had since the last meal time when the food was delivered to his cell.
I stopped outside his cell and looked into his gaze. Our eyes locked on each other. I smiled at him and nodded. He did the same. A big grin came over his face and his eyes acknowledged that I was there.
Jim is in a segregation unit of Millhaven prison. His mental state and his physical reactions/distractions are such that he has been placed in this small white cell to help control him and for his own safety. For some personal reason he cannot cooperate with the system of behavior that Millhaven has and he remains in this cell. His daily time in the cell may be 23 and ½ hours a day but could be longer if he fails to cooperate or acts out in an aggressive way.
It is not only Jim’s personal safety that is a problem here but also the Prison Guard’s that have to deal with Jim.
Visiting Jim’s unit was impacting for me. I have seen some extreme things in different correctional facilities in my lifetime. This particular ward is right up there at the top of impacting me.
It is amazing to see the professional care and control that the Correctional Officers have for these very high risk individuals in this prison.
It is the care and the control mix that comes from another human being for the at risk person that stirs me.
After walking through the unit on Friday afternoon we spent a good portion of time speaking with the correction officer that was in charge of this area at that time.
This corrections officer shared with us how long he is inside each day. The hours can be an 8 hour shift or 12. He is “on” some days and “off” some days. The schedule is not like an ordinary job that I have ever had.
Yet with all of the sounds coming from one of the cells with one man crying out over and over again, the sight of this well-used prison area, the correctional officer smiled and thanked us for coming. He was a strong man with grace.
In the four hours we spent inside Millhaven as part of our training, there were perhaps a hundred different and highly impacting things that I witnessed.
Since Friday afternoon I have been seeing the sights over and over again. The faces of the guards as they looked at our small group parading through their place of work will not be forgotten. The faces of the guys that looked intently at me as we walked by will never be erased from my mind – they are etched deeply forever. And the two that smiled at me and nodded back will not go away – EVER!
Now people from the street or community will not be able to just walk into a Canadian Prison and announce that they wish to see what is going on inside. People from the outside will not enter this prison without direct orders from a Judge and Jury in one of our courts in Canada. And if they enter that way they will be staying for over two years and maybe even a lifetime.
My reason for being there is that I am a CAC Member. I have taken on the role of serving on a Citizen Advisory Committee. In this role I “Observe, Liaise and Advise”. I watch what Correctional Service Canada is doing in its many very different roles that they perform through its Prisons, Prison Guards, Prison Management, Parole Offices and Parole Officers. I watch what the prisoners are doing as well.
When and if there is something that just doesn’t make sense I may ask more questions as to why that something has taken place. If I don’t understand I ask. I am a volunteer with CAC and offer my eyes, ears and mind as well as my body to take me to meetings and places that the outside public does not see.
And as a volunteer there is absolutely no pay for what I do. Through the controls and hoops that I jump through to maintain my separation from the system, together with my willingness to be close to the system, I and many other folk on our CAC work offer “objective witnessing”. Then when called upon we will testify to what we saw happen.
With this posting and reporting of my visit to the Millhaven Institution I am doing just that… testifying/reporting.
Earlier on Friday afternoon before we began our walk through Millhaven a Parole Office Manager shared with us the reason for the program and Millhaven. It is way more than a prison to control bad guys, it is a finely tuned system that handles all Federal Prisoners from day one and on.
It is at Millhaven that assessments are done on every man coming into one of the Ontario Prisons. It is after that assessment is complete that the guys will be transported to their “Mother Place” – which could be a Maximum, Medium or Minimum Prison somewhere in our province.
During this assessment it is determined what educational level each man has achieved in his lifetime. Completing his personal schooling will possibly be one of his opportunities while he is Prison. Also during this initial time in Millhaven his physical and psychological state is assessed as well. The needs for his health care and medication care is prescribed and then treatment is started.
The various levels of Triage that takes place when a man comes into Prison is nothing short of amazing. The care offered to these fellows is very good.
Oh there are complaints about food at times, about the way that they feel they have been treated or mistreated, there are games that some play also to try to break the system. But with all of that there is a very professional and highly trained team of Correctional Officers and Staff that maintain the safety for each and every man that comes into the Prison system of Canada – as well as themselves.
And with all of that there is a local CAC group or individual that is close by to be a link between what is real and what is unreal. They are there helping to make our society a better place to live in.
Am I bragging about what I do as a CAC member? Nope, not at all! It is an honor to serve in this way and no pat on the back will make much difference at all.
I have quit a hundred times in 13 years of doing this… because sometimes it just doesn’t make any sense at all. And yet I have re-enlisted and come back for more a hundred and one times – to help one more time… just because what I have done in a quiet way makes a difference in some very small way.
On Friday I watched and listened to what was presented to me. I was very impressed with the work that the folk do inside of Millhaven.
And for one very short time I looked into the eyes of Jim and we connected. Our smiles were exchanged and I hope that made a difference.
Jim will never read this I am sure of that.
But Jim if you could, I do this stuff for you and your family back home that misses you.
I do it for the victims of your crime that need reassurance that they will be safe and you will never hurt them again.
I do it for the tremendous professional Prison staff at all levels that do so
much and cannot tell anyone what they actually go through each day.
I am the face of a stranger.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
The Face of a Stranger
The Friday afternoon we met was cool. But we were inside with the cool wind and the snow falling outside not affecting what we both felt. Even though the meeting was very short neither of us will forget the look on the each other’s face. At least I will not.
A very few seconds but yet a lifetime. A small moment but yet it was life changing for me – forever.
I will call him “Jim” – yet I do not know his real name. The only identifying thing I know about him was the sign that was stuck to the outside of the door, “handcuff behind the back”.
Where did I meet Jim? It was inside Millhaven Penitentiary near Bath Ontario. And at the moment that Jim and I met we were both in the segregation unit of this prison. I was standing outside his small cell. The large steel door was closed but the small window at my eye level was open. The window was about 4 inches wide and 10 inches high and Jim’s face appeared framed in that window as he watched us stand outside his cell.
Our small group was likely the only human contact he had since the last meal time when the food was delivered to his cell.
I stopped outside his cell and looked into his gaze. Our eyes locked on each other. I smiled at him and nodded. He did the same. A big grin came over his face and his eyes acknowledged that I was there.
Jim is in a segregation unit of Millhaven prison. His mental state and his physical reactions/distractions are such that he has been placed in this small white cell to help control him and for his own safety. For some personal reason he cannot cooperate with the system of behavior that Millhaven has and he remains in this cell. His daily time in the cell may be 23 and ½ hours a day but could be longer if he fails to cooperate or acts out in an aggressive way.
It is not only Jim’s personal safety that is a problem here but also the Prison Guard’s that have to deal with Jim.
Visiting Jim’s unit was impacting for me. I have seen some extreme things in different correctional facilities in my lifetime. This particular ward is right up there at the top of impacting me.
It is amazing to see the professional care and control that the Correctional Officers have for these very high risk individuals in this prison.
It is the care and the control mix that comes from another human being for the at risk person that stirs me.
After walking through the unit on Friday afternoon we spent a good portion of time speaking with the correction officer that was in charge of this area at that time.
This corrections officer shared with us how long he is inside each day. The hours can be an 8 hour shift or 12. He is “on” some days and “off” some days. The schedule is not like an ordinary job that I have ever had.
Yet with all of the sounds coming from one of the cells with one man crying out over and over again, the sight of this well-used prison area, the correctional officer smiled and thanked us for coming. He was a strong man with grace.
In the four hours we spent inside Millhaven as part of our training, there were perhaps a hundred different and highly impacting things that I witnessed.
Since Friday afternoon I have been seeing the sights over and over again. The faces of the guards as they looked at our small group parading through their place of work will not be forgotten. The faces of the guys that looked intently at me as we walked by will never be erased from my mind – they are etched deeply forever. And the two that smiled at me and nodded back will not go away – EVER!
Now people from the street or community will not be able to just walk into a Canadian Prison and announce that they wish to see what is going on inside. People from the outside will not enter this prison without direct orders from a Judge and Jury in one of our courts in Canada. And if they enter that way they will be staying for over two years and maybe even a lifetime.
My reason for being there is that I am a CAC Member. I have taken on the role of serving on a Citizen Advisory Committee. In this role I “Observe, Liaise and Advise”. I watch what Correctional Service Canada is doing in its many very different roles that they perform through its Prisons, Prison Guards, Prison Management, Parole Offices and Parole Officers. I watch what the prisoners are doing as well.
When and if there is something that just doesn’t make sense I may ask more questions as to why that something has taken place. If I don’t understand I ask. I am a volunteer with CAC and offer my eyes, ears and mind as well as my body to take me to meetings and places that the outside public does not see.
And as a volunteer there is absolutely no pay for what I do. Through the controls and hoops that I jump through to maintain my separation from the system, together with my willingness to be close to the system, I and many other folk on our CAC work offer “objective witnessing”. Then when called upon we will testify to what we saw happen.
With this posting and reporting of my visit to the Millhaven Institution I am doing just that… testifying/reporting.
Earlier on Friday afternoon before we began our walk through Millhaven a Parole Office Manager shared with us the reason for the program and Millhaven. It is way more than a prison to control bad guys, it is a finely tuned system that handles all Federal Prisoners from day one and on.
It is at Millhaven that assessments are done on every man coming into one of the Ontario Prisons. It is after that assessment is complete that the guys will be transported to their “Mother Place” – which could be a Maximum, Medium or Minimum Prison somewhere in our province.
During this assessment it is determined what educational level each man has achieved in his lifetime. Completing his personal schooling will possibly be one of his opportunities while he is Prison. Also during this initial time in Millhaven his physical and psychological state is assessed as well. The needs for his health care and medication care is prescribed and then treatment is started.
The various levels of Triage that takes place when a man comes into Prison is nothing short of amazing. The care offered to these fellows is very good.
Oh there are complaints about food at times, about the way that they feel they have been treated or mistreated, there are games that some play also to try to break the system. But with all of that there is a very professional and highly trained team of Correctional Officers and Staff that maintain the safety for each and every man that comes into the Prison system of Canada – as well as themselves.
And with all of that there is a local CAC group or individual that is close by to be a link between what is real and what is unreal. They are there helping to make our society a better place to live in.
Am I bragging about what I do as a CAC member? Nope, not at all! It is an honor to serve in this way and no pat on the back will make much difference at all.
I have quit a hundred times in 13 years of doing this… because sometimes it just doesn’t make any sense at all. And yet I have re-enlisted and come back for more a hundred and one times – to help one more time… just because what I have done in a quiet way makes a difference in some very small way.
On Friday I watched and listened to what was presented to me. I was very impressed with the work that the folk do inside of Millhaven.
And for one very short time I looked into the eyes of Jim and we connected. Our smiles were exchanged and I hope that made a difference.
Jim will never read this I am sure of that.
But Jim if you could, I do this stuff for you and your family back home that misses you.
I do it for the victims of your crime that need reassurance that they will be safe and you will never hurt them again.
I do it for the tremendous professional Prison staff at all levels that do so
much and cannot tell anyone what they actually go through each day.
I am the face of a stranger.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Friday, December 9, 2011
Communicatitis- The way that we speak to each other - Sheesh
Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
Communicatitis- The way that we speak to each other - Sheesh
The Following is written by Dan Pallotta. Dan Pallotta is an expert in nonprofit sector innovation and a pioneering social entrepreneur. He is the founder of Pallotta TeamWorks, which invented the multiday AIDSRides and Breast Cancer 3-Days. He is the president of Advertising for Humanity and the author of “Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential.” ( I never wrote the introduction either… all copied from another source. ML)
If you are part of Linkedin.com you might have caught this already.
If you are part of the hbr.org you might have read it also at http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/
Dan I am so impressed with what you have said, I want others to see and read it as well. So without your permission I copy it into my Blog today – giving you full credit. Oh by the way – we have never met. I am only a follower or your work.
Dan Pallotta writes…quote
“I'd say that in about half of my business conversations, I have almost no idea what other people are saying to me. The language of internet business models has made the problem even worse. When I was younger, if I didn't understand what people were saying, I thought I was stupid. Now I realize that if it's to people's benefit that I understand them but I don't, then they're the ones who are stupid.
There are at least five strains of this epidemic.
Abstractionitis
We have forgotten how to use the real names of real things. Like doorknobs. Instead, people talk about the idea of doorknobs, without actually using the word "doorknob." So a new idea for a doorknob becomes "an innovation in residential access." Expose yourself repeatedly to the extrapolation of this practice to things more complicated than a doorknob and you really just need to carry Excedrin around with you all day.
Acronymitis
This is a disease of epic proportions in the world of charity. I was at a meeting just two days ago at which several well-meaning staff members of a charity were presenting to their board, and the meat of their discussion revolved around the acronyms SCEA and some other one that began with "R" that I can't recall. In the span of three minutes these acronyms must have been used eight times each. They were central to any understanding of the topic at hand, but they were never defined. So I had not the vaguest idea what the presenters were talking about. None. Could have been talking about how to make a beurre-blanc sauce for all I know.
Valley Girl 2.0
My partner and I were at a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley five years ago, and a real-live Valley girl was sitting in the booth behind us talking on her cell phone. We couldn't stop listening to her. She had a world-class ability to string together half-sentences devoid of any substance whatsoever. And yet you felt as if something important were being discussed! "And she was like, ummm, and I was just like, you know, umm, no way, really, like, yeah, and when she was like that, I was just like..umm...." She could go on in this way for extended periods of time without mentioning any actual people, actions, or thoughts. There's a business version of this illness. It involves the use of words such as "space," "around," "synergy," and "value-add" with a healthy dose of equivocators like "sort of" and "kind of" to ensure that there is no commitment to anything being said: "I'm in the sort of sustainability space around kind of bringing synergistic value-add to other people's work around this kind of space." Oh, OK, that explains it.
Meaningless Expressions
I wrote about the phrase "thinking outside the box" recently and how overused and utterly misunderstood the expression is. There are many more. Another term that has lost its meaning is "Let's exceed the customer's expectations." Employees who hear it just leave the pep rally, inhabit some kind of temporary dazed intensity, and then go back to doing things exactly the way they did before the speech. Customers almost universally never experience their expectations being met, much less exceeded. How can you exceed the customer's expectations if you have no idea what those expectations are? I was at a Hilton a few weeks ago. They had taken this absurdity to its logical end. There was a huge sign in the lobby that said, "Our goal is to exceed the customer's expectation." The best way to start would be to take down that bullshit sign that just reminds me, as a customer, how cosmic the gap is between what businesses say and what they do. My expectation is not to have signs around that tell me you want to exceed my expectations.
Abstract Valley Girl 2.0 Acronymitis Using Meaningless Expressions
This is when you combine the four diseases above. So you get phrases like, "You should meet this guy with the SIO. He's sort of this kind of social entrepreneur thinking outside of the box in the sustainability space and working on these ideas around sort of web-based social media, and he's in a round two capital raise in the VP space with the people at SVNP." How many times have you heard what you now recall to be precisely this sentence?
This would all be funny if it weren't true. People just don't make sense anymore. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble if you internalize this. Observe it, deconstruct it, and appreciate just how ridiculous most business conversation has become.
You will gain tremendous credibility, become much more productive, make those around you much more productive, and experience a great deal more joy in your working life if you look someone in the eye after hearing one of these verbal brain jammers and tell the person, "I don't have any idea what you just said to me."
End Quote – Thanks Dan.
Over the next few days I am attending a conference where almost 100% of the people presenting their material will be speaking in one of these modes. For sure they will be speaking Acronymitis and also with Meaningless Expressions.
By the time Sunday evening arrives I will be speaking Valley Girl 2.0.
Today I am to be in a prison for a meeting. I will be walking with ordinary people… and led by some one that speaks in Acronyms. It ought to be a delightful day when I keep asking and saying, “I didn’t understand any of your words. What did you just say?”
Oh Boy! How honest can you be with the Government?
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
Communicatitis- The way that we speak to each other - Sheesh
The Following is written by Dan Pallotta. Dan Pallotta is an expert in nonprofit sector innovation and a pioneering social entrepreneur. He is the founder of Pallotta TeamWorks, which invented the multiday AIDSRides and Breast Cancer 3-Days. He is the president of Advertising for Humanity and the author of “Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential.” ( I never wrote the introduction either… all copied from another source. ML)
If you are part of Linkedin.com you might have caught this already.
If you are part of the hbr.org you might have read it also at http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/
Dan I am so impressed with what you have said, I want others to see and read it as well. So without your permission I copy it into my Blog today – giving you full credit. Oh by the way – we have never met. I am only a follower or your work.
Dan Pallotta writes…quote
“I'd say that in about half of my business conversations, I have almost no idea what other people are saying to me. The language of internet business models has made the problem even worse. When I was younger, if I didn't understand what people were saying, I thought I was stupid. Now I realize that if it's to people's benefit that I understand them but I don't, then they're the ones who are stupid.
There are at least five strains of this epidemic.
Abstractionitis
We have forgotten how to use the real names of real things. Like doorknobs. Instead, people talk about the idea of doorknobs, without actually using the word "doorknob." So a new idea for a doorknob becomes "an innovation in residential access." Expose yourself repeatedly to the extrapolation of this practice to things more complicated than a doorknob and you really just need to carry Excedrin around with you all day.
Acronymitis
This is a disease of epic proportions in the world of charity. I was at a meeting just two days ago at which several well-meaning staff members of a charity were presenting to their board, and the meat of their discussion revolved around the acronyms SCEA and some other one that began with "R" that I can't recall. In the span of three minutes these acronyms must have been used eight times each. They were central to any understanding of the topic at hand, but they were never defined. So I had not the vaguest idea what the presenters were talking about. None. Could have been talking about how to make a beurre-blanc sauce for all I know.
Valley Girl 2.0
My partner and I were at a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley five years ago, and a real-live Valley girl was sitting in the booth behind us talking on her cell phone. We couldn't stop listening to her. She had a world-class ability to string together half-sentences devoid of any substance whatsoever. And yet you felt as if something important were being discussed! "And she was like, ummm, and I was just like, you know, umm, no way, really, like, yeah, and when she was like that, I was just like..umm...." She could go on in this way for extended periods of time without mentioning any actual people, actions, or thoughts. There's a business version of this illness. It involves the use of words such as "space," "around," "synergy," and "value-add" with a healthy dose of equivocators like "sort of" and "kind of" to ensure that there is no commitment to anything being said: "I'm in the sort of sustainability space around kind of bringing synergistic value-add to other people's work around this kind of space." Oh, OK, that explains it.
Meaningless Expressions
I wrote about the phrase "thinking outside the box" recently and how overused and utterly misunderstood the expression is. There are many more. Another term that has lost its meaning is "Let's exceed the customer's expectations." Employees who hear it just leave the pep rally, inhabit some kind of temporary dazed intensity, and then go back to doing things exactly the way they did before the speech. Customers almost universally never experience their expectations being met, much less exceeded. How can you exceed the customer's expectations if you have no idea what those expectations are? I was at a Hilton a few weeks ago. They had taken this absurdity to its logical end. There was a huge sign in the lobby that said, "Our goal is to exceed the customer's expectation." The best way to start would be to take down that bullshit sign that just reminds me, as a customer, how cosmic the gap is between what businesses say and what they do. My expectation is not to have signs around that tell me you want to exceed my expectations.
Abstract Valley Girl 2.0 Acronymitis Using Meaningless Expressions
This is when you combine the four diseases above. So you get phrases like, "You should meet this guy with the SIO. He's sort of this kind of social entrepreneur thinking outside of the box in the sustainability space and working on these ideas around sort of web-based social media, and he's in a round two capital raise in the VP space with the people at SVNP." How many times have you heard what you now recall to be precisely this sentence?
This would all be funny if it weren't true. People just don't make sense anymore. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble if you internalize this. Observe it, deconstruct it, and appreciate just how ridiculous most business conversation has become.
You will gain tremendous credibility, become much more productive, make those around you much more productive, and experience a great deal more joy in your working life if you look someone in the eye after hearing one of these verbal brain jammers and tell the person, "I don't have any idea what you just said to me."
End Quote – Thanks Dan.
Over the next few days I am attending a conference where almost 100% of the people presenting their material will be speaking in one of these modes. For sure they will be speaking Acronymitis and also with Meaningless Expressions.
By the time Sunday evening arrives I will be speaking Valley Girl 2.0.
Today I am to be in a prison for a meeting. I will be walking with ordinary people… and led by some one that speaks in Acronyms. It ought to be a delightful day when I keep asking and saying, “I didn’t understand any of your words. What did you just say?”
Oh Boy! How honest can you be with the Government?
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Thursday, December 8, 2011
A problem with my HP Pavilion dv6 Lap Top Freezing up – Grrrr!
Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
A problem with my HP Pavilion dv6 Lap Top Freezing up – Grrrr!
(Special Note: This will not likely be a terribly inspiring post today. It is about a Lap Top Computer problem that is annoying. It is posted to possibly help other Lap Top users solve their problem.)
Oh Crap! This stupid Lap Top Computer hung up completely! Just after I posted to the Blog yesterday it went down. It happened just before I had to go out to the Mall for my weekly presentation. I didn’t need that to think of all day!!!!
I have an HP Pavilion DV6 Lap Top. I purchased this in August 2011 – so it is not that old. In fact it has worked wonderfully well, except for a few times that it seems to freeze. A simple KILL works well, that is a shut off of the machine by pushing the On Button.
But not this time. This time it just sat there completely Black on the screen. That was even after I killed it and restarted it over again.
I was ready to get my hammer and truly kill it. I hate computers that won’t obey.
But I am old now – even older than computers. When I began as a Computer Tech way back in 1965 we expected that every problem would be new… but every problem was fixable as well. There would always be a ‘trick’ in some way to get by the problem that you have had before you.
Later in the day I called a ‘friend’ who suggested that I might have a “static” problem of some sort. That was a great suggestion to consider. Here is the step process that I tried. I also published these words to a HP Forum where others seemed to have the same problem.
Now it doesn’t fix the problem or reason that it happens but it gets by when everything else is locked up tight.
What actually happened…
Quoting from my post to the HP site…
“I experienced a few lock ups -each a little different until yesterday when it went completely BLACK - cap lock light on - f10 and f11 lit orange. A KILL usually fixed the problem and got me back up again. But not this time. Apparently it is caused by a 'static' hold up of some kind or other. I was able to get the machine back up by these steps..(did not fix the problem but rather got by the lock up)
1.) Turn off the machine-
2.) Unplug the AC-
3.) Take out the battery -
4.) Hold down the Power Button for 20 seconds- which deals with the "static" thing
5.) Reconnect the AC with the Battery out - then boot machine-
6.) After the computer runs through the complete start up - shut down normally -
7.) Re-install the Battery - reboot - and away you go -
This is kind of a very old computer fix from the 1960s and 1970s - when I started working on the first computers. Why the heck HP has this problem with something made in 2011 - blows my mind!”
Unquote
Now my guess is simple. Because we all want the machines to be smaller and smaller we are experiencing similar problems. It is very likely that other Lap Top Computers are having similar problems as HP. The equipment inside is very similar… and electricity does the same thing in certain areas of the country. Zap, Zip and Pop. Make the machine smaller and it will possibly happen again.
I had a Toshiba Lap Top back a few years ago that had/has a problem with static as well. If you touched the speakers which were on the front left and right – it would knock out the computer completely.
It only happened when the air was dryer. Out west in Canada with lower humidity it happened a lot. In the east it only happened when the humidity dropped and sparks appeared as you walked over the carpet.
By covering the whole of the lap top’s upper surface with a thin, sticky, shelf plastic – speakers and all – it solved the charge zapping problem. Sound was little muffled but it worked.
By buying a HP Lap Top with speakers not on the front I solved that problem as well.
There is one consoling factor when you work with a computer. I learned this a long time ago… and it makes it easier to deal with the issues I face. Simply put, “If there is a possible problem on a computer, it will happen to me and my machine!”
There. That makes it much easier to solve. And the second part of what I have learned over these years is, “There is always an answer from someone that has had the problem before.”
Good luck today. Maybe this post will help someone – that is swearing and ready to get the hammer out for one last time.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.
To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post
A problem with my HP Pavilion dv6 Lap Top Freezing up – Grrrr!
(Special Note: This will not likely be a terribly inspiring post today. It is about a Lap Top Computer problem that is annoying. It is posted to possibly help other Lap Top users solve their problem.)
Oh Crap! This stupid Lap Top Computer hung up completely! Just after I posted to the Blog yesterday it went down. It happened just before I had to go out to the Mall for my weekly presentation. I didn’t need that to think of all day!!!!
I have an HP Pavilion DV6 Lap Top. I purchased this in August 2011 – so it is not that old. In fact it has worked wonderfully well, except for a few times that it seems to freeze. A simple KILL works well, that is a shut off of the machine by pushing the On Button.
But not this time. This time it just sat there completely Black on the screen. That was even after I killed it and restarted it over again.
I was ready to get my hammer and truly kill it. I hate computers that won’t obey.
But I am old now – even older than computers. When I began as a Computer Tech way back in 1965 we expected that every problem would be new… but every problem was fixable as well. There would always be a ‘trick’ in some way to get by the problem that you have had before you.
Later in the day I called a ‘friend’ who suggested that I might have a “static” problem of some sort. That was a great suggestion to consider. Here is the step process that I tried. I also published these words to a HP Forum where others seemed to have the same problem.
Now it doesn’t fix the problem or reason that it happens but it gets by when everything else is locked up tight.
What actually happened…
Quoting from my post to the HP site…
“I experienced a few lock ups -each a little different until yesterday when it went completely BLACK - cap lock light on - f10 and f11 lit orange. A KILL usually fixed the problem and got me back up again. But not this time. Apparently it is caused by a 'static' hold up of some kind or other. I was able to get the machine back up by these steps..(did not fix the problem but rather got by the lock up)
1.) Turn off the machine-
2.) Unplug the AC-
3.) Take out the battery -
4.) Hold down the Power Button for 20 seconds- which deals with the "static" thing
5.) Reconnect the AC with the Battery out - then boot machine-
6.) After the computer runs through the complete start up - shut down normally -
7.) Re-install the Battery - reboot - and away you go -
This is kind of a very old computer fix from the 1960s and 1970s - when I started working on the first computers. Why the heck HP has this problem with something made in 2011 - blows my mind!”
Unquote
Now my guess is simple. Because we all want the machines to be smaller and smaller we are experiencing similar problems. It is very likely that other Lap Top Computers are having similar problems as HP. The equipment inside is very similar… and electricity does the same thing in certain areas of the country. Zap, Zip and Pop. Make the machine smaller and it will possibly happen again.
I had a Toshiba Lap Top back a few years ago that had/has a problem with static as well. If you touched the speakers which were on the front left and right – it would knock out the computer completely.
It only happened when the air was dryer. Out west in Canada with lower humidity it happened a lot. In the east it only happened when the humidity dropped and sparks appeared as you walked over the carpet.
By covering the whole of the lap top’s upper surface with a thin, sticky, shelf plastic – speakers and all – it solved the charge zapping problem. Sound was little muffled but it worked.
By buying a HP Lap Top with speakers not on the front I solved that problem as well.
There is one consoling factor when you work with a computer. I learned this a long time ago… and it makes it easier to deal with the issues I face. Simply put, “If there is a possible problem on a computer, it will happen to me and my machine!”
There. That makes it much easier to solve. And the second part of what I have learned over these years is, “There is always an answer from someone that has had the problem before.”
Good luck today. Maybe this post will help someone – that is swearing and ready to get the hammer out for one last time.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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