Leeway from Lloyd: Senior moment with technology

One of the nuggets of information in my swag bag from the recent Lloydminster Seniors Information Fair at the Legacy Centre was a flyer from the Learning Council on tech tutoring for seniors.

It’s focused on one-on-one tips on how to use your tablet, smartphone or laptop. It’s a great service for a lot of older folks who grew up in an analog world. 

As a senior myself, I rely on my Best Buy Geek Squad subscription when a gremlin gets into my computer system and I can’t figure out how to ferret it out.

Unfortunately, neither the Geek Squad nor the Learning Council provides the TV troubleshooting I was recently in need of.

When I turned on my year-old LG TV I also bought at Best Buy, the screen was pink static with a buzzing noise and I was in panic mode.

My first thought was I would have to buy another TV since the one-year warranty has expired. 

In a eureka moment, I rushed into my bedroom and turned on my old TV and everything was fine, so I couldn’t blame my cable provider.

As a quick fix, I unplugged the TV then plugged it back in after 30 seconds, and after two tries, everything went back to normal, at least temporarily.

Since this may happen again, my go-to senior helper is Google, and sure enough, pink static pops up as an issue with a whole bunch of possible DYI fixes to try out.

If the other pink static shoe drops, maybe I can consult some of the 30 or so exhibitors from the information fair, starting with the Learning Council.

Better yet, I will put myself on the list of exhibitors for next year’s event as an expert in pink static.

Feel free to call my “no worries” crisis line for 99 cents a minute with a minimum of one hour per call as I provide detailed tips over the years starting with a chapter on kicking your TV without breaking a toe!

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER