Just a few items for this week’s News and Updates
Admin site update
The TFREC Admin website is up and fully functional. There may be a few links that still need changing and possibly some contact extensions or emails to be updated. If you run across anything drop me an email. There are a couple of new features that were added. The first is a new work request form. This replaces the old maintenance request form. You will find the link to the form both on the home page under Quick Links and on the Facilities page. Once you fill out and submit the form it automatically emails to Jerry. Let me know if you have problems with the form or have suggestions to improve it.
The other new item is the pesticide application re-entry notice page. As I mentioned last week, the database and App were rebuilt by CAHNRS and hosted on their cloud server. People will be able to click on the link under Quick Links or on the Orchard Service page to see any current application postings. Applicators will be able to log in from a link at the top of that page to enter/edit pesticide applications. If you will be entering applications in the system, I need to get you set up first. Please don’t wait until the day of spraying to get set up! Remember, before you go out to any of our orchard blocks you should check either the Re-entry notice page or other mandatory postings locations before entering blocks.
TFREC public website
The Center’s website is live but doesn’t have much on it. If you have suggestions on how to improve the site, have content or links to add, or if you’d like to help maintain the site, please contact me.
Server room remodeling and network equipment
Room 149A will be undergoing remodeling soon. First, we had the Network equipment racks moved farther towards the back wall. The next step is building a wall to close this area off. Access will be through a pre-existing door between that area and the lab next door (149). Traffic in and out of that door should be minimal and by authorized personnel only. There are a few pieces of equipment to be relocated behind the wall. This should happen when the CAHNRS IT guys are back here at the start of March. When they come they will also be bringing at least one new WIFI AP router. Once all the equipment is moved and the wall built, the rest of the room will be ready for its remodel. The current counter/desktops and shelves will be removed and the room finished off. There will likely be some noise and added hallway traffic during this time, but hopefully, it should be over quickly.
Lobby slideshow
The lobby monitor slideshow is horribly out of date. If you have anything new to share or have suggestions about modernizing it – or would like to take over its maintenance, please let me know!
Other tidbits
Spoofing phone calls
I don’t know about you, but I get a lot of annoying scam/spoofing phone calls on my cell phone. Most of these calls “appear” as though they are from local numbers, just ones I don’t recognize. But all of them are robocalls pretending to be from a credit card company, IRS, or other service offering help for something. All want personal information. I even had one that I answered but didn’t say anything. A live voice finally came on saying hello. I soon as answered with hello, the recording started. Some of the calls will actually leave a voicemail making it sound like something bad will happen if you don’t call them back. Don’t fall for it.
Legitimate callers will not use robocalls, with the possible exception of registered political entities. And, if you are on a no-call list, they shouldn’t be calling you at all. Here’s a link to an article posted by PEMCO Insurance about phone spoofing that is a good read talking about what spoofing is and protecting yourself. One thing that it doesn’t mention is that there are legitimate ways (loop-holes) around the no-call list. If you have given your phone number to a business and that business is in partnership with a separate business, that second business is granted privilege to call you. That is also one of the downsides of allowing a website to have access to your phone number for alerts or notices. Anyone they do business with may also have access to that number. Facebook is a great example of this. They require a cell number for your account’s “security”. This means that anyone they deem to be partners with also has your number – and possibly much more. So, I guess as long as I’m on Facebook, I’ll keep getting those annoying calls.