Down For Maintenance: September 29, 2015

My computer's hard drive would probably last another few months, or a year or so. Then again, it might not. Either way, it's time for a newer, higher-capacity, and less-likely-to-unexpectedly-crash hard drive.

The good news is that my son plans to install the new drive, set me up with Windows 10, and get the odd bit of maintenance done, tomorrow. Having a certified technician under the roof has its advantages. I'm taking advantage of the situation, and started a one-week-plus vacation from my regular schedule: starting today. That doesn't affect the webcam, of course

The not-so-good news is that I'll be without a computer for several hours, at least. He and I both know that stuff happens when complex equipment gets a 'routine' once-over.

More to the point, this webcam will be offline, starting some time during the day on September 29, 2015 — until the job is done.

If, for reasons I can't imagine, you want to read a somewhat rambling blog post about this, on another blog, check out:

• "Taking a Week Off. Maybe Two"
  (September 28, 2015)

Back Online

My son discovered why the webcam wasn't working. Basically, nobody had told the software that it was okay to get information from the camera. It's fixed now, and I've got another 'look for this' item for the next time there's technical difficulties.

Related post:

• "No Picture, No Clue"
  (June 19, 2013)

Sauk Centre's Eye-on-the-Street webcam's Back: Again

A few minutes ago, I came to the computer. The screen was dark: no surprise, since the screen saver does that.

Problem is, I couldn't get the display back.

Eventually, I rebooted.

The webcam's back online now: but may have been off for hours.

I'm checking now, to see if I can figure out what happened, and keep it from happening again.

As before, in situations like this: thank you for your patience.

On 24/7/365: Except When I'm Not

I'm taking the webcam offline for an hour or so soon. It's something I do most evenings. If your view of my neighborhood streets gets cut off abruptly: Sorry about that!

Not all of my software plays well with what supports the webcam - and I've only got this one computer.

When it's gone, the picture's usually back in an hour or so. Except those rare occasions where I've got some - interesting - technical issues.

Thanks for watching, and please be patient.

I Overslept

There are about 12 minutes of "morning" left in the Central time zone, where I live. I got the webcam up and running a minute ago, so it did return 'in the morning.' With 13 minutes to spare.

I overslept.

That's the disadvantage of using the USTREAM service. It's great: quite reliable, pretty good image quality. But, it makes demands on my system that make shutting down now and again to let the system sort itself out a very good idea.

Besides, my computer is about five years old, and I have to keep it running as long as I can. My budget is so tight, eagles on my quarters are screaming.

Enough venting for now: Enjoy the show!

The Northcam's Back! Just in Time for the Ash Street Project

After being offline for over a week, the northcam is back.

And just it time to show what's happening at the Ash Street Project. The crew started cutting up the street outside, barely an hour before I got the camera and the online display talking to each other again.

The camera is near the corner of Ninth Street south and Ash, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Webcam and a Bucky Computer

This afternoon, my main computer started misbehaving. There may be something wrong with the hard drive. Or possibly the file allocation table.

Or, maybe I've got gremlins in the tower.

The long and the short of it is that until some time next week, the webcam photo will be stuck at 4:53 PM, May 21, 2008. Unless I work something out.

I told my 12-year-old son that I'd try setting my laptop up as a substitute. He told me that he'd thought of the same thing (which I believe), and added, "great minds think alike, hmm?"

That's my boy.

I'm taking the main computer in for therapy right after the Memorial Day weekend. That was the earliest opening they had, where I had the thing built.

"Due to Technical Difficulties..."

The 'main' computer here is slightly on the fritz. Something to do with the hard drive, I'm afraid.

I've arranged to take it in to the shop next week, and am hoping for the best until then. Meanwhile, there well probably be a time or three when those once-a-minute updates won't happen.

Frustrating.