Holiday Closure Notice: Bev The Geek will be closed November 24th – 27th. We wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving while we are celebrating with our families, too! When we return on Monday, November 28th we will work hard to catch up on work orders (they are worked on in the order they were received). Please allow a few extra days for work/web orders placed over the holiday weekend and the first week of December, Thanks!

p.s.  However, if you have an emergency, contact us and your call will be returned as soon as possible!

I use Payvment on my Facebook page for products which I believe don’t really need great photos. Or do they?  WordPress Classes, Remote Assistance, Remote Access to your Computer.  Things like that.  But what is you have other products where a photo really does matter?  Payvment posted a great little blog on just that!

You can read about it HERE.

What is really nice about their article is that it is not only relevant for Real photographers , but for some of us (all of us?) with little point and shoot cameras as well.

Enjoy! (and let me know if this was helpful to you!)

Teddy has worked so hard for this. Some dogs are cordial and easy going. Others have had a tough time and end up in rescue. Teddy was one of the latter. Rescued in November 2009, he was teased by some boys trying to vandalize the car and he ate my car (well, not ALL of it, just the doors — I think he was protecting the car). Then, teased by other kids and had a meltdown. At that point, we had an intervention for this rescued dog.   Then, there were two more incidents….Was there hope for this dog? Some said no and said to put him down, but together Teddy and I didn’t give up. With some great trainers, tons of Love, and Lots of hard work, Teddy passed his AKC Good Citizen test.

These are the Test Items required for Passing (and can be found HERE on the AKC site):

AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program

Training/Testing: CGC Test Items

Before taking the Canine Good Citizen test, owners will sign the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge. We believe that responsible dog ownership is a key part of the CGC concept and by signing the pledge, owners agree to take care of their dog’s health needs, safety, exercise, training and quality of life. Owners also agree to show responsibility by doing things such as cleaning up after their dogs in public places and never letting dogs infringe on the rights of others.

After signing the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge, owners and their dogs are ready to take the CGC Test. Items on the Canine Good Citizen Test include:

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger

This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator.

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting

This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the handler’s side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner’s care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout.

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog’s position should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler’s movements and changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired.

Test 5: Walking through a crowd

This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash.

Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place

This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler’s commands to sit and down and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog’s leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler’s commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side.

Test 7: Coming when called

This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to “stay” or “wait” or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog.

Test 8: Reaction to another dog

This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.

Test 9: Reaction to distraction

This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.

Test 10: Supervised separation

This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, “Would you like me to watch your dog?” and then take hold of the dog’s leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g, “there, there, it’s alright”).

Equipment

All tests must be performed on leash. For collars, dogs should wear well-fitting buckle or slip collars made of leather, fabric, or chain. Special training collars such as pinch collars, head halters, and electronic collars are not permitted in the CGC test.

We recognize that special training collars such as head collars and no-jump harnesses may be very useful tools for beginning dog trainers, however, we feel that dogs are ready to take the CGC test at the point at which they are transitioned to equipment that allows the evaluator to see that the dog has been trained.

The evaluator supplies a 20-foot lead for the test. The owner/handler should bring the dog’s brush or comb to the test.

Encouragement
Owners/handlers may use praise and encouragement throughout the test. The owner may pet the dog between exercises. Food and treats are not permitted during testing, nor is the use of toys, squeaky toys, etc. to get the dog to do something. We recognize that food and toys may provide valuable reinforcement or encouragement during the training process but these items should not be used during the test.
Failures – Dismissals

Any dog that eliminates during testing must be marked failed. The only exception to this rule is that elimination is allowable in test Item 10, but only when test Item 10 is held outdoors.

Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attack a person or another dog is not a good citizen and must be dismissed from the test.

As a sidenote:  Teddy was the only dog taking the test who did NOT have to repeat any section….I am sooo proud of him!

I’m a PC. Proud of it. But I also need to know other operating systems. That’s where the troubleshooting of computer repair Really comes into the picture. I was recently brought a computer that ‘couldn’t get on the internet after a friend reformatted the computer.’ It was an HP laptop, so until I booted it, I didn’t know it no longer had Windows on it. Not necessarily a bad decision Ubuntu is a pretty nice operating system and, once you take the time to learn it, you probably won’t ever go back to Windows. But it does have its drawbacks if you don’t know command lines and such. Mr. User wanted Adobe Reader and not any other PDF reader – solved. Adobe now supports Linux – even if you have to install it through a third party (thanks Maverick!:).

Here is a little runway music I worked on today. It is a large file, so I thought it would take a long time to buffer.  It does not.  I am using the Audio Player plugin for WordPress and it seems to work seamlessly — once I figured out my link needed the .com in it. I kept getting a DNS error.  duh and lol.  But it is working great now!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Local Business Directory

Local D Directory

Well, now they are in here three times and still won’t validate the code…hmmm.

Okay, maybe this is something only a geek would love. BUT, we all use the Internet (if you don’t, you’re not reading this anyway.:) and, it seems, we do want to experience the fastest Internet connection possible. Well, Google has a plan. When we connect here on Earth, speeds are fast. From space can be a different story, although it is already happening with a protocal called Bundle Protocol. In an interview with Vint Cerf, of Google, it is being taken seriously behind those hallowed walls or, rather, up in space. Read more of that interview here.  Google says they new they would be implementing this type of protocol as far back as 1998! And now they are looking at the, literally, launch, this year (2011).  Read more about this in Popular Science’s article here.

If you are interested in learning WordPress, keep an eye out for classes beginning March 31 and April 1. Two separate classes (one for evening learners and one for morning learners), will begin respectively.

Cost: $100 — 12 hours / 6 sessions of approximately 2 hours each.

Class size is limited. Call 406-777-4335 to reserve your seat!

*If you are new and bring a friend, deduct 20% from your class fee!
**Alumni can reserve a seat for 1/2 off the class fee!

Microsoft doesn’t like it much that Google won a Huge GSA contract. Huge, in that, they (Microsoft) have lost years of business. On the other hand Mr. Rizzo, Microsoft’s Senior Director of Microsoft Online Services, has this to say: “There’s no doubt that businesses are talking to Google, and hearing their pitch, but despite all the talk, Google can’t avoid the fact that often times they cannot meet basic requirements.” Rizzo writes. “For instance, in California, the state determined that Google couldn’t meet many of their basic requirements around functionality and security. Rather than address deficiencies in their product by developing a more robust set of productivity tools, Google cried foul instead of addressing these basic needs.”

You can more about this here.

Veteran’s Day.  A day off — for some.  For our military, they are hard at work, defending our country, as they have for more than 200 years.  Here in Stevensville, Montana, the American Legion Post 94 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 94 will be hosting a community dinner — for any who would like to attend.  Doors open at 5:30 and the program and dinner begin at 6:30 pm. Location: the American Legion Hall on Middle Burnt Fork outside of Stevensville. . . .

. . . When I was growing up, my Daddy never shared much about his experiences in the war – and he was in two of them - WWII and Korea.  In his latter years, he has shared some, but I am sure he has not shared most of the horror and terror he experienced while at war.  His grandson attempted to extract some of his stories but, in the end, most were too painful, or memories forgotten.  On Veteran’s Day, 2010, at 84, he is speaking at Lone Rock School, where he will be honored for his service. 

Let us remember our military this Veteran’s Day. Those serving, those who have served, those we have lost. Let’s not forget them. Thanks Daddy.