Month: December 2022

Installing Audacity without (Ubuntu) Snap packages and Error -9985

Fergus YoungLeave a comment

TL;DR Answer was found here. https://askubuntu.com/questions/1426476/ubuntu-22-04-audacity-does-not-show-up-in-pulseaudio-recording-tab

sudo apt install audacity -y

Admittedly, the process of trying to lay down and run Audacity initially gave me a bit of grief.

Wanted to install Audacity on my freshly laid down copy of Ubuntu 22.04 and all the references I could find of Audacity was to either install using “Snap” or “Flatpak”. Was apprehensive about Snap versions of any software and recall having grief with Audacity Snap before on my older machine giving me vague errors (e.g error -9985) about being unable to save or being unable to listen to a particular recording device. “Going Transport” –> “Rescan Audio Devices” did absolutely squat.

Even went back into Ubuntu Store and enabled all permissions on Audacity with again, nil effect. Appears nothing has changed (at the time of writing this post) two years on. As a Ubuntu user, I don’t have an overall very good impression of Snap at all having had issues with other Snap packages including with Flameshot (a screenshot tool) being unable to save to the Picture directory.

 

Installing Audacity without (Ubuntu) Snap packages and Error -9985

GMail’s Spam Filter failing to stop obvious spam

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Very perplexed that Google’s GMail Spam Filter is failing to pick up and stop very obvious Spam Mails in recent months. The spam Emails are usually titled with the subject Confirmation! Or ConfirmationReceipt! (no space in between) and 4 numbers behind that.

While I know this is unlikely, It almost as if it feels like that Google / GMail is deliberately letting these through because no amount of mashing the “This is spam” button on such Emails with in GMail’s interface appears to have any effect and these Emails continue to land in my GMail account’s inbox.

What is even more perplexing is that my Main domain Email account (Hosted with another Email provider) which I forward all my incoming GMail Emails to is able to recognize these as Spam and file it in the Spam Folder.

Regardless, am gradually moving to “De-Google” as much as possible over the coming year or two.

GMail’s Spam Filter failing to stop obvious spam

Desire to Travel is in a lull

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Admittedly, my desire to travel anywhere is in a definite lull at the moment. I’m anticipating it will come back at some point, but I ain’t going to try and force it back. May be accommodation and general travel costs is impacting this a bit.

Might do some day or short overnight trips somewhere these Holidays depending on availability of accommodation / tent sites and depending on how I feel. Again, I’m not going to force it. Will spend my holidays how I see fit.

Desire to Travel is in a lull

Warning regarding “3M Command” type hanging hooks

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Please be aware the use of M3 Command or similar picture hooks can still cause damage to walls when one attempts to take them off. Had a case where a tenant (who has otherwise been excellent) while vacating a property tried to remove one of the hooks and ended up taking some paint with it. The property manager got their nominated handy man in to address it but saw in the property owner’s transaction statement I received later in the month that the cost of repair came to almost $300 (from looking at a copy of the Tradie’s invoice). Whether the charge is reasonable or not, I wouldn’t know as I’m not a tradie.

I now learn that other property owners on various private forums have suggested to their tenants to avoid the use of 3M Command type hooks as they can ultimately cause more damage than regular Picture Hanging hooks if they aren’t removed “correctly” which by itself seems rather subjective.

If you do a search for reviews regarding 3M Command hooks, it appears there’s a few repeating anecdotes suggesting that they may not be all they are cracked up to be so if you do choose to still use them for hanging stuff around the house (be it for your own home or a rental), do so with due care and awareness that the risk of damage is still present.

Warning regarding “3M Command” type hanging hooks

Smile Dental Ormiston Auckland – Patient Review

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After Hill Park Dental East Tamaki and Panmure both closed unbeknownst to me, ran around looking for a new dentist to regularly visit. Have decided to settle on using Smile Dental Ormiston for ongoing teeth cleaning and periodontal monitoring and already been to this practice a number of times now.

Pricing I feel is quite reasonable. 200 to 250 for teeth cleaning. Gum pockets appear to be slowly reducing.

May Yee Sim is the dentist I usually see, having originally seen her at the Smile Dental – Sylvia Park Branch. Also saw Karis Ho for sore gum condition. Appreciate both their positive and friendly attitude.

One advantage with Smile Dental over other Dental practices is that they are open on the weekends without surcharge. This is immensely handy as it means I don’t have to arrange time out of my busy work week to go see the dentist.

Was originally a little bit concern regarding Smile Dental being a chain, but experiences appear to have been fine so far with nothing reasonable to fault about any of my experiences themselves to date.

The only thing that can really be pointed out is their Group wide website has a few spelling mistakes and may need a bit of proof reading. Statements such as “Your dental specialist may prescribe you see a periodontitis” did give me a little bit of a quiet chuckle.

 

Smile Dental Ormiston Auckland – Patient Review

Yes, admittedly, I’m still running around in that 2006 Toyota Wagon.

Fergus YoungLeave a comment

Admittedly, I did remark I would get rid of my car about 5 years ago. But have yet to do so.

To be honest, I just can’t be bugged with replacing it. While the paintwork is now well and truly fading and I get ribbed for it being the worst car at my workplace, the thing still reliably runs.

Have driven better cars in recent years mainly as rentals, and while I will admit they’re nice to drive, I don’t get enough elation to run out and get a newer car.

Yes, admittedly, I’m still running around in that 2006 Toyota Wagon.

DJR Pumbling Auckland Client Review – High quality, Responsive, More expensive.

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Used DJR Plumbing / David Roche to Install a new Rheem Stellar 160 replacing the old Vulcan Freeloader 300 back in June 2022. including new slab, external piping, fittings and connections. New water cylinder so far working great.

Total price paid $4038 (Includes gas certificate)

DJR may not be the cheapest, but did appreciate the professional, approachable and can do attitude throughout. Very responsive to communication, probably the best I’ve seen from any tradesperson. Punctual, arrived to do the job on time at the times he stated the following day.

There was a minor leak to the existing distribution pipe discovered afterwards, David very obligingly came back that same morning (after notifying him) where he resolved it without fuss. The Owner’s manual was found soiled in the bin, looks like it got accidentally stepped on, however was able to eventually find a copy online.

Overall, reasonably happy with the job done and happy to consider using DJR again for any gas fitting and plumbing be it for my own place or for a rental property.

DJR Pumbling Auckland Client Review – High quality, Responsive, More expensive.

Edwards and Hardy Auckland Customer review

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Update 26th January 2023: They eventually were able to get their guys to come around and do the job in the end. Updated the review accordingly. Price issues have since been resolved. They allegedly had staffing shortages contributing to some of admin issues detailed below.

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Used this company before many years ago and called upon them again last year to conduct a moss spray treatment on my concrete tile roof.

After a about 3 no shows along with a price quote irregularity, 2 of their roofers eventually came along and did the moss spray on the roof. It appears Edwards and Hardy introduced a new job booking/scheduling system which has resulted in some frustrations to both customers (such as myself) and their own front line staff in the last year or so. This resulted in me having to repeatedly chase up via Email, texts and phone calls as to the status of the job and when they could expect to come around.

Regardng the price quote, Edwards and Hardy provided a written emailed quote of 470 to spray the roof while 2 other competitors I was able to contact both provided me a quote of 380 for roof spraying. I had accepted Edwards and Hardy’s already higher quote in good faith based on previous custom. To find an additional $100 Health and Safety charge tacked on after accepting their quote and upon receiving a confirmation without this being communicated to me beforehand was rather curious. (Since sorted out, though took a bit of chasing up).

Job was completed within an hour. Apart from one missed cracked tile (a check of the tiles was included as part of the roof moss spray), no real issues with their front line staff who diligently got to the job, were pleasant to deal with and answered any questions I had. The company in general terms however will need to sort their back end systems and work on their communication as according their own field staff, they’ve had multiple complaints of the same issues from other customers.

Edwards and Hardy Auckland Customer review