Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Bad Luck and Good Cookies

I had intended to write a blog post today. Witty, fun and amusing in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day.

If you find a post of that sort below, it means all has gone according to plan. Unfortunately, that does not often happen for me. Lately, anyway. I seem to have the luck of a never ending Friday the 13th, Jason Voorhees and all. Apparently we Russian/German mongrels do not have the luck of the Irish. Go figure. 

Bad Luck and Good Cookies | Picture property of www.BakingInATornado.com


Here's my story, sad but true. As a blogger, this breaks my heart because many times I have had my content stolen. I would never, ever do it to anyone else. 

There is recourse when that happens, if you find out about it. I have, many time, but I'm sure there are tons of times when I have not. Anyway, I have a form letter I send to the offender and if they still refuse to take down my stolen blog post and/or pictures (yes, many of them actually say they are doing me a favor by allowing more people to see my work), I can go to their web host and demand their site be taken down. It's a long process, finding how to contact the owner of the site, waiting for their answer, emailing the web host if it comes to that, and often the offender then takes down the post. Aggravating, frustrating, but I do go to the trouble.

Now I find myself on the other end of the equation. For years now we have been notified by our cable company of letters they receive saying we are stealing content. It's from large movie studios for the most part, saying we are downloading shows or movies illegally and/or selling them. Each time we are mortified as we are not doing this. Each time we contact our cable company and each time they tell us something else we should buy or do. We've been jumping through hoops for a long time and each time it stops for a while then starts again. We are diligent in letting our cable company know what's going on and following their recommendations, even signing up for their security service for a time. We've changed our modem, router, passwords, everything. We are beyond frustrated.

It all came to a sad end a few days ago. Once the provider gets enough infringement notices they have to cancel our cable or they are liable. After a about 6 month lull, this happened last Thursday. As always I called them very upset. I had, apparently, made my way to the top of the ladder at the cable company and he (yes, I'm furious about this) gave me a way to be sure that only the devices I specify can attach to our internet. Yes, yet another recommendation now that it's too late. Apparently it was reported that someone from our IP address illegally downloaded Indiana Jones Temple of Doom last Saturday night when we were sitting here in a major snowstorm not illegally downloading anything. Doesn't matter, my cable service has been terminated. Period.

There is one other company we can possibly go to and we're trying to get set up with them now. Even if we can, there may be a lag in our service. Even if we can, there's no guarantee we can stop this pirating associated with our IP address.

So if you're reading this, there's no witty blog post today, just a sob story. If and when we're able to access cable again, I'll be back. 

Until then, enjoy these Key Lime Shortbread Cookies. I may not have the luck of the Irish today, but I can bake like I do.

Key Lime Shortbread Cookies are a little sweet with a burst of citrus. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cookies

Key Lime Shortbread Cookies
Key Lime Shortbread Cookies are a little sweet with a burst of citrus. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #cookies


For me, for today, the pot at the end of the rainbow is just internet service. 
 
Wish me luck.


Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics





Key Lime Shortbread Cookies        
                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (makes 50 cookies):
2 sticks butter, softened
1 tsp key lime zest
1 cup powdered sugar
2 TBSP key lime juice
2 cups flour
2 TBSP green colored sugar

3 oz green candy melts

Directions:
*Cream butter and lime zest until smooth. Gently beat in 1 cup of powdered sugar until just incorporated, then beat in the lime juice, followed by the flour, slowly at first. Mix in the green colored sugar.
*Form into a dough with your hands, roll into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and about 14 inches long. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper.
*Remove cookie dough from fridge and cut into 1/4 inch slices. Bake for 13 minutes. Allow cookies to cool completley.
*Melt the green candy melts in the microwave at 15 second intervals, stirring in between, until completely smooth. Dip one side of each cookie into the melts and place onto parchment paper to set.

14 comments:

  1. I love lime in almost everything. Looks like I know what I'm doing with those limes that I need to use.

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  2. I wish I had a solution. Hackers comes to mind-is it possible that someone, like a neighbors child (Unknown to the parents) is doing this? Would it be worth the money to hire a computer science major or professional to give you some advice? Just throwing out ideas. I don’t have this type of expertise, alas.

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    Replies
    1. We had been working with the tech experts at our soon to be former internet provider about blocking whoever is hacking in. Every time we call they tell us something new to try and every time it works for just a short time. They did tell us something new last time I called, I'll try to do it when we're set up with the new company.

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    2. I hope that latest suggestion works. If there's only two options for Internet and one isn't anymore that's really scary!

      (And, BTW, your cookies look fantastic.)

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    3. Yes, we're pretty upset about the situation. This has been going on for a really long time and we just don't even know where to turn anymore.

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  3. I would notify a local TV station consumer reporter who tries to fix problems for their viewers. Each of the stations here have people who look into stuff like this. Once it gets into the public eye, things tend together fixed because of the notoriety.Your cable provider should have fund out who is hacking and taken care of the problem.

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    Replies
    1. My internet provider can't even give me one person to talk to every time and I never get the same answer twice.

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  4. Oh that is terrible more so because you didn't do it,how are the hackers getting past your security key/password I would be clueless trying to do that

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  5. I love lime and I'm sure these cookies are delicious. But this crazy drama with the internet company...it has got to stop. I hope the new company is better and there is no more of this craziness.

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    Replies
    1. Me too. I'm just so sick and tired of fighting this fight.

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  6. That is just crazy in this day and age to have these kinds of problems. I hope you find a company that protects you like it should. I am so tired of dealing with these companies day after day to pay outrageous fees & anthing else they deem necessary!

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