Cellar Scribblings

[Jeff Wrangler]

This week they started doing "stress tests" of the system,  to make sure the system would work with a large number of employees working from home.

At my work, we're doing that on Tuesday. I hope working at home remains optional. It is seriously inconvenient for me. Till I get the ethernet cord, the power cord, and the mouse tether all plugged in, I've got wires running every which way. Then, of course, there is the whole matter of the laptop screen and keyboard.

I had wanted to go back to the office today, and get my full-sized keyboard, mouse and extra monitors so I could work from home more effectively.   However, a second email went out saying that we are not allowed to take the extra equipment home.  We are supposed to work on our laptops only.

We had an e-mail yesterday that we can take monitors home (I don't remember what it said about keyboards. Imagine me carrying a 17-inch monitor on the subway--let alone two of them! 

I placed an order for pick up tomorrow, as I do my shopping every two weeks, so we'll see what is in stock and what is not.  LOL   I do have some food in the freezer, so I'm not worried, I will be fine.

I hope you ordered plenty of toilet paper. 

[serious crayons]

Till I get the ethernet cord, the power cord, and the mouse tether all plugged in, I've got wires running every which way.

Can you access your condo's wireless service with your computer? If you can do that, you wouldn't need the ethernet cord, right? And you can get a mouse that works with a USB plug and has no tether -- inexpensive and available for order from Best Buy, Amazon, etc. And if the laptop has a good battery you could unplug the power cord except when charging it. And voila! If all three work, no wires.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Can you access your condo's wireless service with your computer? If you can do that, you wouldn't need the ethernet cord, right? And you can get a mouse that works with a USB plug and has no tether -- inexpensive and available for order from Best Buy, Amazon, etc. And if the laptop has a good battery you could unplug the power cord except when charging it. And voila! If all three work, no wires.

The building doesn't supply WiFi service. You have to get it on your own. My assumption is that I do not have it because when the tech from Verizon came to install my FiOS, he asked me if I wanted it, and I said No, because the only device I have is my desktop PC, which is not WiFi enabled. Then I was thinking of WiFi in the sense of having a laptop or some other device to use in the bedroom, and I wasn't interested in that. I might think about trying the company laptop without plugging in the ethernet cord just to see what happens.

I have a wireless mouse to use with the laptop that I now keep at my dad's, and I really like it. I have a kind of philosophical objection to spending my money on equipment for my job, but if it turns out that I'll be working at home for any length of time, I may have to bite the bullet and buy a full-size keyboard for my own comfort. It might be that I could go into the office just to get my office keyboard to bring home to use. (We are able to do that; I just meant being allowed to go back in the building to get the keyboard if I decided I need it. I don't want to have to carry it home on public transportation if I don't have to.

It also crossed my mind to see if there is such a thing as a "splitter" of some kind that could be placed in an ethernet port so you could plug two cords into one port. I don't like having to unplug my own PC to plug in the office laptop.

[brianr]

I through ethernet was dodo technology. I have had wifi through the house since I moved in nearly 10 years ago and had fibre installed to the house (free) about 5 years ago. I cannot remember when I last needed to use an ethernet cord in a hotel when travelling.

[serious crayons]

I've used ethernet when my wireless was malfunctioning. Never, that I can recall, in a hotel. Though I do remember the days when I traveled without a laptop, and I would have to use the hotel-provided computers ... to visit BetterMost! 

[Jeff Wrangler]

Though I do remember the days when I traveled without a laptop, and I would have to use the hotel-provided computers ... to visit BetterMost! 

I did that, too! Eleven (gulp) years ago when I made my big cross-country train trip, I remember sitting in the "business center" in my hotel in Seattle checking in. 

I remember once using a "business center" to print an airline boarding pass, but I don't remember where that was or when it was. 

[Jeff Wrangler]

It also crossed my mind to see if there is such a thing as a "splitter" of some kind that could be placed in an ethernet port so you could plug two cords into one port. I don't like having to unplug my own PC to plug in the office laptop.

Duh. ...

I noticed additional ports on the back of the router. Just a few minutes ago I spoke to someone in IT and confirmed that those ports are for plugging in additional cables, so I should be able to have my PC and the company laptop on the internet at the same time.  The woman in IT even told me that my connection might be better for using the cable than WiFi.

The women in our IT Department always seem so much nicer to work with than the guys. They speak plain English as well as Tech. 

[CellarDweller]

Hiya BetterMost friends.

Hope that everyone is staying healthy and safe.

NJ is seeing a spike in people infected with Coronavirus/Covid-19, whichever name you choose to use.

March 4   - James Cai, a 32-year-old New York physician assistant with an apartment in Fort Lee, is the first person in New Jersey to be diagnosed with coronavirus.
March 5   - An Englewood woman becomes the second New Jerseyan to test positive for coronavirus.
March 6   - A Camden County man in his 60s becomes the third New Jersey resident with coronavirus.
March 8   - State officials announce New Jersey's fifth and sixth residents to test positive for coronavirus.
March 9   - Gov. Phil Murphy declares a state of emergency after five additional residents are diagnosed with the disease, bringing the statewide total to 11
March 10 - Officials announce New Jersey's first coronavirus victim: John Brennan, a 69-year-old Little Ferry man who died the morning of March 10 at Hackensack University Medical Center.
March 11 - New Jersey has eight new cases, bringing the total to 23, a day after the state's first death from the virus - just one week since the first patient in New Jersey was diagnosed with the disease.
March 12 - Six more corornavirus cases are announced in New Jersey.
March 13 - New Jersey announces 21 new cases, bringing the statewide total to 50.
March 14 - The second coronavirus death in New Jersey, The state reports 19 new cases bringing the total to 69 statewide.
March 15 - The number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey shoots up to 98 with 31 new cases added.
March 16 - New Jersey officials announce 80 new coronavirus cases bringing the statewide total to 178. It is the biggest surge yet.

The Governors of New York,  New Jersey, and Connecticut have decided that the Federal Government has not done enough in regards to restrictions, and the three have put their own state restrictions in place.

We're basically under a curfew here now.   The following types of businesses are to be closed indefinitely starting at 8:00 tonight.

Restaurants (no more dine-in options, but will still offer delivery and take-out)
Bars (if they do not serve food)
Casinos
Gyms, fitness centers and classes
Movie theaters
Racetracks
Performing arts centers
Nightclubs
All schools public, private and parochial starting Wednesday, March 18
Colleges and universities starting Wednesday, March 18


I'm working from home for the unforeseeable future.  My parents are off, but being paid, as they are part of the school system.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I'm working from home for the unforeseeable future.  My parents are off, but being paid, as they are part of the school system.

I expect that beginning tomorrow I will be working at home indefinitely.

[brianr]

In Australia and NZ it is generally advised that school remain open as it would be worse for kids to be running around the streets.