Posts by wanderingbadger17

I was watching the news this morning and honestly, it just feels like we’re playing a never-ending game of "who can blink first." Every time things seem to settle down or we get a tiny breather, something else happens that just kicks the whole cycle right back into high gear.

It’s exhausting to watch. It feels like there's this massive momentum building up where nobody actually wants a total blowout, yet nobody seems able or willing to stop the back-and-forth once it starts. I remember back in the day, it felt like there were more clear lines, but now it just feels like a constant, simmering tension that could boil over at any second.

I can't help but wonder if there's actually a way to break these patterns, or if the "eye for an eye" logic is just baked into how everything works now. Do you guys think we're headed toward a point of no return, or is this just the new normal for global stability?

Amanda White82 said:I think I messed up something while installing Windows 7.

I can only see the C: Drive partition, even though I intended to make two partitions.
What should I do? Do I really have to start the whole process over?

The C: Drive has 100 GB, but I can't find where the rest went.😕

I don't think you actually made a mistake. Honestly, I'm pretty sure you didn't. You probably just need to go into Disk Management and assign a letter to show that second partition... I'm not exactly an expert on this anymore, especially with Windows 7, but if that's all the issue is, it's just a few clicks. Based on what you said, I'm fairly certain that's the case...

Joshua Ramos14 said:@analoglynx37/">@@analoglynx37 ... what they reported in the news was nonsense.
@wanderingbadger17/">@@wanderingbadger17 .... I wouldn't bother getting a new HDD, you probably won't notice much of a difference... and as for laptops, some models support it, others don't..

Of course I'm not looking for a new laptop... I was just wondering about that whole thing with Windows Home Premium versus Windows Ultimate. Is there any truth to the idea that Ultimate actually runs faster... or something like that?

Just standard stuff, really—programming, working in Visual Studio 2010, Java... I guess it’s hard to say exactly how much of a resource hog that actually is... but that's what she does...

It honestly feels like a defeat that most laptops over here require you to buy Windows separately instead of having it pre-installed. It's frustrating because in places like Italy, for instance, every single laptop comes with it already loaded...

Is there any truth to what I've been reading? Apparently, Windows 7 Ultimate is supposedly faster than Home Premium... I'm asking because I'm stuck with this frustrating laptop. It's got an Intel Core i7 8GB 2GB Graphics, but the hard drive is only spinning at 5400rpm. I guess you could say that might be "choking" the performance?

Eric Cook7 said:..but I have to wonder, what did the actual menu look like? How was the service? Was it a case of small portions versus high quality, or just both lacking? And where did the reception even take place—was it held in a proper restaurant or out by the pool?

The appetizers up on the roof by the pool were pretty underwhelming... though maybe that's just because it was freezing out there...

The menu was pretty basic—just three slices of ham and stuff like that, plus some mediocre risotto... portions were tiny, too...

That’s our take on it... honestly, it was pretty bad...

The location is incredible, and I guess this Hilton is definitely a summer spot, but they probably have all the same guest restrictions as any other hotel out here...

Eric Cook7 said:Hey everyone! I’ve been noticing so much incredibly helpful info floating around this group lately, so I figured it was high time I jumped in and asked a few questions of my own... has anyone here ever actually attended a catered party at the Hilton in San Antonio, Texas? We’ve stayed there before and absolutely loved it, but we’re looking closely at their event options now because the brochures make it look quite promising—apparently, they can host a poolside gathering for up to 50 guests right by the water. I’m dying to know if anyone has firsthand experience with one of those events! Specifically, what was the food quality like, what kind of pricing should we be budgeting for, and what does the menu typically look like? Is it usually a buffet-style setup, or do you sit down and coordinate everything directly with the hotel staff? Please, please share anything and everything you can! Thanks a million!

My wife and I were there about ten years ago. In our experience, the food was pretty terrible and felt very cheap.

Anthony Bennett6 said:I really hope you guys didn't catch whatever bug Matić had about a month ago down in those basement studios! I told them back then they were going to end up with some absolutely killer shots...

Neno sent me some shots from his studio, and I’m honestly thrilled with how they turned out! My only gripe is the layout in the albums... I can't wrap my head around why he doesn't let the newlyweds decide which photos actually make the cut.

Canceling that wedding shoot was such an unprofessional move on his part. I truly feel for those couples who likely booked him over a year in advance! That said, I’m hopeful he managed to find them a worthy replacement... but still, it just feels so unprofessional.

Photoshop is honestly such a lifesaver! I love using it to touch up a few stray hairs, smooth out some wrinkles, or even just tweak my height a little bit. It makes everything look so polished!

wanderingbadger17 I really hope everything else worked out perfectly for you! As for what those pictures will be worth... well, you'll just have to wait a year to see that magic happen!

Once those photos finally arrived, we had to pick a place to host them... and honestly, there was only one right choice! I can't quite make sense of that link! It looks like it might be broken or just lead to a dead end. I had a similar issue last week when I was trying to find a recipe on a food blog, and it's always such a letdown!

We aren't that couple... so why are you hoping? 😁

Canceling a reception at the very last second is about as reliable as a harvest of wild plums in the middle of nowhere...

The only way to fix this would be to hire a photographer at my own expense, which seems to be the only way to get things done...

P.S. Photoshop isn't the issue; the issue is when it's used on trivial, useless things instead of the important stuff... and that's exactly what Ivica Matić does with half of our photos... 😠 🙂

Jack Murphy7 said:Look, obviously I’m not claiming to be an expert—there’s always someone doing a better job and someone doing a worse one. My point was more about the lack of substance in what they're selling and the overall attitude toward the work.
As for that double deposit thing, I don't know... what's the actual benefit if someone flakes at the last minute and you're left scrambling for a replacement anyway?

Honestly, deposits don't make any sense, especially when you aren't getting a legitimate receipt or an invoice... a contract or something. If it isn't through a legal entity, there's basically zero benefit for the client... because it's all just under the table.

Ivica Matić is clearly the type of guy who'll jump ship to another place for $33 a few extra bucks... if he were actually a professional, that wouldn't even cross his mind... it's pathetic...
We're dealing with some low-rent behavior over ten mediocre photos $33... there isn't much left to say. I'll make sure to trash him wherever I get the chance.

hollowpilot58 said:

batelant says:
back in 2012.

It’s all a scam. I remember when they were shooting this whole thing—they were supposedly photographing some prince from Saudi Arabia at some fancy hacienda in Spain or whatever. Just pure smoke and mirrors...
And then, just a few days before, we found out the guy was a total fraud a married couple was actually dealing with. They had already paid him a deposit to shoot that obnoxious prince on short notice after being offered the gig. We only heard about it from a guy who plays in the band at their parties... because the couple called him to ask for help finding a photographer since the original guy screwed them over at the last second... as if he was actually going to find them a decent replacement after they'd already handed him a massive deposit...

:

Yeah, true. A friend of mine went through this; he’s losing his mind over it. He reached out to the guys in the band to see if they could recommend someone, even though he’d paid the deposit a full year in advance. It really makes you wonder what the hell a deposit is actually for if not to secure a pro.

To make matters worse, this so-called "photographer" suggested he could come by a week before (or after, I can't quite recall) to do a little preliminary shoot.😂
Completely unprofessional.

I’ve been reading through this thread and I honestly don't get it—why is this guy so highly regarded?

I’m glad someone else is calling this out...

It isn't just unprofessional; it's moronic and downright rude...

Clearly, with Jack, the deposit is just there so he can wipe his ass with the money he took... or maybe let his kid play with it...

The guy is famous for no reason at all...

When I picked up my wife, he started taking photos of her at home, even though he hadn't snapped a single shot before then. It was all just a rushed, frantic mess, yet prior to that, he was basically non-existent. As a result, my wife and her maid of honor don't have a single photo together. Even my brother, who's barely literate, doesn't have a single decent photo. I mean, what are we even doing here? He puts a photo in my album where a sex shop is in the background in full focus—I don't want that in my album.

And when we finally told him we weren't happy, he just insulted us like total assholes.

Thomas Martinez said:I sent him an email—he just gave me this short reply saying he's busy. I actually asked him about the summer of 2012, too. I've heard whispers from a few sources that his studio was shut down, though I'm honestly not sure if there's any truth to that.

Regarding 2012. Ivica Matić charges 2,000 euros for his work... 🙂
but honestly, it isn't even worth 1,000... you'll learn that the hard way...

If you want him to be your exclusive photographer, fine. But if you go through MWP—which acts as his studio—it’ll be a bit cheaper, though not by much, and he won't be the one shooting you...

It's the same racket as when you hire a big agency like Getty Images and they just send some random intern from the warehouse to do the job...

Now, he signs some kind of contract where he promises to deliver the photos... that contract is basically worthless. It lists his fee, but it's never the full amount; he once handed us a paper saying 700 euros at a wedding reception, and we didn't even bother reading it before signing...

We've read conflicting things—some people love him, others hate him, whatever. But you have to make a choice, and we wanted high-quality work because you only get married once. I just want to share our experience with you all...

He totally failed us. This past summer, he was busy photographing some prince from the Middle East at some fancy estate in Spain or something... just selling smoke...
And then, a few days later, we found out he screwed over another couple. He took their deposit for a weekend shoot, but then ditched them because he got offered that lucrative gig with the prince. We found out from a guy in the band who plays at weddings... the couple called him for help because Matić bailed on them at the last second. As if he was going to find them a decent replacement after taking their money upfront...

My experience and my advice? Give this guy a wide berth... 😠

Charles Gomez4 said:First time I've seen anyone complain about him (even if I don't personally care for his style), everyone usually raves about him. What exactly went wrong? Too many "cartoons"? (as my ex-flirts would say on a forum) 😁

Maybe we’re just the first ones brave enough to say it out loud...

Regarding $3.75, he spends three days overthinking things while selling us pure smoke and mirrors. His whole persona is built on being "the best," but in our experience, that's definitely not the case. For that kind of money, just getting photos isn't enough—you expect so much more...

We paid for two albums, yet the photos were basically repeats between the two...
The selection was poor... honestly, many of the unedited shots looked better...
Even though we opted for the most expensive package, the photos lacked detailed editing...
When we asked to swap some photos, we got hit with two insulting, low-class emails. We stayed polite, though, like idiots...
In the end, we had to "negotiate" our way into getting 10 photos that he would finally edit properly so we could take them to Walgreens—which, by the way, we ended up paying for out of our own pockets...
Basically, after $3.75, he completely ripped us off for $33...
Not to mention, I had to call him multiple times just to get the files sent over for printing. Every time I called, he wouldn't pick up; he'd just send a quick email a few hours later. That's just the kind of guy he is and how he runs his business...

My trip wrap-up:

The pirate bar: absolute peak, highly recommend it to everyone!!
The cathedral: St. Patrick's - a solid 5/5!
The band: Rhythms of the City - definitely check them out!!
The photographer: N/A - a total crook and a complete fraud. He’s just selling smoke and mirrors, and he's nowhere near worth the money he charged us—not to mention what he essentially swindled from us. To make matters worse, he sent some incredibly offensive emails when we tried to express how unhappy we were with his work. I'll make sure to trash him everywhere I can.

Benjamin King2 said:It searches through both folders and individual files. If nothing turns up, I guess you just typed the wrong name.

Alright, thanks!

Benjamin King2 said:Just use the search function to find the folder. As for whether you need the basic version or the full Microsoft Office suite, I guess that just depends on what you actually do. And please, let's not talk about "buying" keys around here anymore. 🙂

Actually, I was looking at the search function, and it doesn't seem to let me browse folders by name... it only searches for files.

Benjamin King2 said:So, what exactly does it say on those first two windows?

I'm not sitting by my laptop right now, but I'll grab a screenshot later...

though I doubt that's going to fix anything...

I'm just trying to figure out how to find that "my files" folder I sent somewhere—I can't seem to track it down anymore. 😁

Also, I've got this weird situation with Microsoft Office...

See, the laptop was bought over in Europe, and it came with Microsoft Office Starter pre-installed. Now, whenever I try to launch it, I get this window asking if I want to install either the Starter version or the full suite, provided I have a product key...

So, where does that leave me?

Am I supposed to just "buy" a key or something...?

So, I'm a new user on Windows 7 Home Premium x64, just trying to get settled in, and I've already hit a wall.

I want to move my "My Documents" folder off the C: drive where the OS lives and onto the D: drive, so I can keep my files separate from the system... I've been trying to figure out how to do this, but nothing seems to work.

Specifically, I've reached the point where I go into Properties, then Location, and try to redirect it to the D: drive—the way you used to do it back in Windows XP—but it won't let me. Instead, it just keeps throwing one error window after another at me.

To make matters worse, I think I actually lost my files during the first attempt, and I have no idea where they ended up. Any help would be appreciated...

rowdyskipper8 said:Sure, the price seems fine, but the whole beer situation is the issue
It’s not a flat rate; they charge based on how much you actually drink. From what I've heard, it ends up being about $50-$23 per person, which... 🙂 does that sound too low to you?
Anyone here actually dealt with this before?

Yeah, another restaurant told me their food is great, but I'm looking for feedback from someone who was actually at a wedding there. How's the service, the food, all that?

I have a decent offer from them, but the beer thing is stressing me out. My only fear is getting absolutely fleeced on the tab and having the final bill be $23 instead of 4 times higher than expected :S

I honestly think they'd rip you off on the drinks...

First off, you can't really verify how much was actually drunk versus what wasn't, and I guess you're just supposed to trust the waiter's word on it...

Unless you plan on paying some guy to stand there all night counting every single pour, which is just ridiculous, and I doubt they'd even agree to it...

Look, if you understand how the hospitality industry works, the profit margin has always been, and will always be, almost entirely on the drinks. What they make on the food is nothing compared to the alcohol. So when they tell you at the end that 20 cases of beer, 100 liters of wine, soda, and other stuff were consumed, who are you going to argue with? You can't exactly say, "No, we didn't drink that much."

Personally, I wouldn't take that kind of gamble... but hey, good luck.

Arthur Phillips12 said:Nicholas Hernandez7 _ so who was your photographer?
I actually got an offer from the National Endowment for the Humanities—way too pricey :-), and then one from Avi—even worse! :-) So now I'm hunting for some cheaper options that still look decent enough 😂

How much did the Matica thing cost you?

Quincy:

As for the pirate theme, I went to a party about three years ago when they had a generator failure and the power was out for an hour... (this was a few years back)... the AC was terrible, the room layout was awful—they put us way in the back where we couldn't see a thing happening up front—and the floor tiles were soaked, which eventually just turned into a muddy mess. In my opinion, it was pretty bad. But hey, maybe that’s what some people want, so they’ll go ahead and drop 40 bucks on it... I’m just not wealthy enough to settle for cheap experiences... good luck.

New owner, new manager, everything runs flawlessly now...

I don't think my wife would even consider a pirate theme if it wasn't high quality... she wouldn't... 🙂

The AC was actually great; we had a party in August and it wasn't just comfortable, it was insane how cool the room stayed even though it was packed... the AC works like crazy...

And that whole thing about the floor being a mess? That isn't on the restaurant. It depends on the crowd you invite and the state of your bathrooms, etc. They aren't going to clean the hall in the middle of dinner just because people are acting wild and making a mess...
Anyone who thinks it's okay to vomit or act like an idiot once they've had a few drinks is going to do that anywhere...
The fact that the room was tidy (which really comes down to the guests) is thanks to the hostess, whose dress barely got messed up despite it being long and dragging on the floor...

And as for the view, the terrace, and the overall vibe... we don't even need to get into that...