Astoria Argenta User Manual - Model SAE/1N JUN

Last week my twin brother and I purchased a used Astoria Argenta Automated Espresso Machine: Model Number: SAE/1N JUN.

We were lucky to find it, but the machine didn't seem to be working right and it didn't come with a user manual.  Easy, we thought. Just jump on to all-knowing google, or download it from the manufacturer. Aren't all manufacturers going to make user manuals available on the products they sell?   The short answer is, no.

After searching for what seemed like hours, we found posts on home-barista.com alluding to manuals, but nothing like what we were looking for.  Here's the post we found.

The next morning I called Astoria to see if they could send me a PDF user manual.

General Espresso Equipment Corporation (Astoria's United States Distributor)

7912 Industrial Village Road
Greensboro, NC 27409
Tel: 336-393-0224
Fax: 336-393-0295
Email: info(at)geec.com

GEEC did send a manual, thankfully -- a blazing twenty-four page user manual for the Astoria Argenta, completely useless.  But here it is if you'd like to read it: Astoria Argenta User Manual - Basic.

The next morning I GEEC again to see if they could send me a better, more useful PDF user manual.  Why they didn't offer to send this originally, I'll never know.   Thankfully, they sent me a ninety-four-page technician's manual, wonderful!  here it is if you need it: Astoria Argenta Technician's User Manual.

In the manual, it said that if espresso is coming out too fast (our problem), that the beans are too course, grind them finer...   So, we bought a Mazzer Mini a couple nights later and our problems are solved (for now) :-D

Anyone up for a coffee?  Leave a comment and you're welcome to come by for an espresso!

Cheers,

-Cody Hayes

Cr-48 webcam not working on Chrome OS 433.257 (Official Build) stable-channel x86-mario

I found a solution in the chromium-os code discussion forum located at this link:

http://code.google.com/p/chromium-os/issues/detail?id=13741&can=1&q=plugin%20for%20webcam&colspec=ID%20Stars%20Pri%20Area%20Type%20Status%20Summary%20Modified%20Owner%20Mstone

Here is an excerpt of the discussion:

The following normally resolves the issue:
1. Enter "chrome://plugins" into the Omnibar, without the quotes.

2. Expand the (+) on the extreme right side of the display.

3. If there are multiple version of Flash, disable: /opt/google/chrome/pepper/libpepflashplayer.so

4. Open a new instance of the program using the webcam, and see if it works.


A later comment confirmed: The Pepper Flash in Chrome OS right now (R12) doesn't support mic or cam access. We will work to enable it in a future release. Thanks for your patience.


If you have any questions, let me know.:

-Cody Hayes 602-373-8485

Finally fixed Connection to Verizon Wireless 3G with Google Chrome Notebook CR-48

My Cr-48 was not connecting to Verizon Wireless 3G. At best, the connection was intermittent.

After troubleshooting with Verizon Wireless broadband tech support and working through all known issues, my problem wasn't solved. Finally I contacted a chrome notebook ninja.

Initially, the Ninja walked me through the same troubleshooting as Verizon had. After the troubleshooting did not produce a result, the Ninja asked the rep to clear out the DMU Key (For more info on this visit - Verizon Wireless Dynamic Mobile IP Key Update (DMU Key)).

Finally, my system was up and running again!

If you've already activated your wireless account with verizon and you're having connectivity issues, this process might fix your connectivity problems. If it does not, you may need to call verizon (see link above) and have them clear out your DMU Key.

Here's the process we went through initially:

First, sign in to your chromebook and be sure you're connected via wi-fi, then follow these steps:

1. ctrl + alt + T to get the chromebook terminal

2. type "modem status" to get your "min" and "mdn" numbers.

3. type "modem factory-reset" to reset your modem, then wait ten seconds and do a status again (type "modem status") to confirm the reset worked (the "mdn" and "min" numbers will have changed if the reset worked).

4. exit the terminal by typing "exit" or just switch back to the main window using the F5 key (key with the multiple windows on it -- works just like alt+tab in windows)

5. In the upper right corner, click on the network connections area and select "activate verizon wireless."

6. If you cannot connect, call Verizon Wireless and ask them to reset your DMU Key.

Worked for me! Thanks Chromebook Ninja!

If you want to contact me regarding this post, feel free to call 602-373-8485 or find me on google+.

-Cody Hayes

"lawyer-mediator" vs. "non-lawyer-mediator"

The following blurb is an excerpt from a linkedin discussion board within the group "ABA Section of Dispute Resolution" -- I, Cody Hayes am the author of this excerpt --

Lawyer vs. Non-lawyer is an age-old credibility battle and in at least some ways (in the dispute resolution context) an age-old pissing contest too. Here's what I mean: Like Gary Devine said when he started this topic, the litigation process is the default pathway people take when they are unable to resolve a (legal) dispute using their best efforts. This next sentence is over-simplified: Lawyers are the folks (and have always been the folks) who formally help people through the litigation process (of course modern lawyers use non-litigation tactics too -- negotiation, mediation, etc. AND there are other non-lawyers; document preparers for example who help, but let's just leave that be for now). Lawyers for that reason have specialized knowledge related to the legal field and substantive areas of law which apply in many disputes -- compared with non-lawyers. Lawyers are also bound by certain ethical rules concerning participation with non-lawyers in business (think other professionals, like CPA's etc.). Though these rules don't necessarily apply directly to our discussion here, they do help to form the foundation for the "bright line" between lawyer and non-lawyer and in some ways the divide & animosity. Bottom line with the first paragraph here is that Litigation is the default, and Lawyers are the default too.

Now, concerning the dispute resolution context:
As advocates, Lawyers have a great professional background to draw from to help people resolve disputes. Lawyers will be advocating, not for one side or the other, but will be advocating for the parties to agree. Non-Lawyers have a whole different set of skills, some of which are inherent to the individual's personality and can not be taught in law school, can not be learned in legal practice, and can not even be learned through "years of experience" mediating. In fact, lots of different kinds of people make great mediators: mothers, managers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, best friends etc.

Not all disputes are legal disputes. Some are interpersonal, some revolve around simple miscommunication, some exist only because of tradition where the reasons for the dispute have long since evaporated, and the list goes on and on.

So, the moral I see is that as mediators in the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution in pursuit of resolving disputes within our communities, we should strive to be less like "lawyer-mediator" vs. "non-lawyer mediator" and more like "lawyer-mediator" with "non-lawyer mediator".

On-a-side-note: I love the concept of bringing both parties with their respective attorneys into mediation -- having representation in mediation can make for a more confident process. I look forward to exploring this in practice in the near future~