Steve Thomson and Doug Swinhart are back for Tech Talk! They kick things off with discussions on extending the life of your machines once the original operating system stops updating and printer maintenance.PLUS Calls/texts on issues with a new iPhone, changes to Microsoft Outlook, printers that won’t connect to the the WiFi and wiping all your inf…

Just around the corner is spring so Theresa shares the latest seed trials going on. Also we take your gardening questions today pertaining to everything from arborvitae and other plants absorbing too much heat, trimming dogwood into spring, monitoring the grow light with your indoor plants, buckthorn, using distilled water with plants and much, muc…

With the weather warming up, it is important to keep an eye and ear out for noises and abnormalities with your vehicle. From proper maintenance to alternators to other upkeep that needs to be taken care of now that we are heading into a warmer time of the year! We also discuss what a turbo is, CV boot fixtures, batteries and much more! For any auto…

Steve Thomson and Doug Swinhart are back for Tech Talk. Steve opens the show with his feelings on what seems to be a losing battle in maintaining privacy online. Doug agrees and gives his thoughts on where we are most vulnerable and what to do about it. Lindsey asks about the quantum computing chips that some of the tech giants have announced in re…

Recovering plants after damage caused by rabbits. It's time to tap maple trees. Deer doing damage in the yard. How to get an Easter Cactus to bloom? The time to prune trees is running out. What is a flaming Katy plant? Reusing soil for vegetable plants. What mulch to use for growing pumpkins? Preventing disease in tomato plants. How long do Amaryll…

Nick calls us from on the road to Proctor. Rear trailing arm bushing replacement. What to do with vehicles without dipsticks? Are modern vehicles more reliable? Packing wheel bearings on a classic car. Low oil pressure alerts. What could cause a car to shake? Easy way to check brake status. Engine making a ticking noise. Can oil additives fix a lea…

This morning there is a warmer temperature but Laura Irish Hanson, U of MN Extension horticulturalist joins to tell everyone - “hold off”, she explains why! We also dive into microgreens, buckthorn eradication, lilac growth fixes, more seeding questions and much more on Smart Gardens! For more information or questions you can go to ext.umn.edu…

With the weather warming up over the next month and currently out of the negative temps - no better time to get outside and inspect your vehicle. Today we tackled tire leak issues, a manual ABS issue, where to find recalls and service recommendations, going from 19 mpg all the way down to 6 and much much more! If you need your vehicle serviced or i…

Steve Thomson and Doug Swinhart back for Tech Talk. They open the show discussing the importance of keeping separation of personal and work information on your machines.A listener asks about AI and printers and it spurs a conversation about artificial intelligence and what can be sacrificed with its unchecked application. Steve is mostly confused a…

This snow cover will be a big benefit for lawns. How long can grass seed last with proper storage? Putting Amaryllis plants into dormancy. Repotting a spider plant. Removing crownvetch from the yard. Plants that attract deer. Can you grow tomatoes with just compost? Is it safe to fertilize a lawn near a lake?Learn more from Jon Trappe and horticult…

Cold weather is causing problems for vehicles. Using a battery tender. Fuel gauge not moving after filling up the gas tank. What is a winter wiper blade? Is it okay to use the remote start in very cold weather? Testing a battery that will not hold a charge. Start/stop engine issues. How to take care of your tires when the weather gets cold. Compute…

Steve Thomson and Doug Swinhart open the show with a discussion about the necessity of browser diversity on your machines for the sake of yourself and the market itself. They take calls on internet speeds/providers including TMobile’s new 5G network, running Linux on old Mac that’s slowing down and how online authenticator apps work.…

How this snow can help outdoor plants. Gardening classes are available for you. How much can you trim a burning bush? Properly planting baptisia flowers. What is hybrid vigor? Dormant grass seed starting to grow. Identifying black spots on roses. When to cover strawberry bushes. When to remove a tree and plant a new one in its place. When to move a…

Snow buildup on low profile tires. Why heat may not be generated in the vehicle. Wheels locking on slippery roads. When 4 wheel drive should be used. Issues when doing tight turns. When to clean the throttle body. Causes behind squeaking breaks. Preventative maintenance tips. What could be causing a loud banging sound in the vehicle? Checking trans…

A discussion about the release of Deep Seek leads off this edition of Tech Talk with Steve Thomson and Doug Swinhart. The market shook but will American Big Tech? Doug is a little concerned. Callers/texts about pesky printer set up without WiFi, ugly Windows designs, finding your way back from the blue screen of death and apprehensions in updating …

Transferring Norfolk pine trees and what fertilizer to use for it. Growing edible perennials. Capturing rain water. Why soft water is not good for house plants. Is water collected from the roof okay to use on edible plants? Is it too soon to prune trees? Replacing soil for tomato plants with disease problems. Growing garlic. Repairing damage done b…

The right octane to use on your vehicle. Traction control problems. How to increase RPMS in your vehicle. The tire sensor keeps showing low pressure. Identifying noise coming from the wheels. Changing lifters on an SUV. Keys not turning on the ignition. Is it necessary to use motor treatment products? Hatchback opening up on its own.Ask our car car…

Fertilizing house plants. What to do if you want to reuse soil. How long do we have left to dormant seed? Treating apple scab. Planting a poinsettia outside. Growing yellow wax beans. Controlling cattails in a pond. Learn more from horticulturalist Julie Weisenhorn extension.umn.edu

How an oil cooler can help your vehicle from overheating. Changing transmission fluid. Serpentine belt replacement. Doors not latching properly. When to change power steering fluid. Replacing fans in the vehicle. What is the best SUV to buy? What does oil look like if you do not change it regularly? Are newer cars less affected by cold temperatures…

Steve and Doug are back and flooded with listener interaction!Topics:Accidental contact merge on Family Sharing on ApplePitfalls of mixing email accountsListener questions and textsPhoto management & what to do with all the Tik Toks you downloaded

What this stretch of freezing cold weather and lack of snow could do to lawns and gardens. Pruning oak trees. Trimming maple trees before spring. Is there a temperature that kills plant pests? Garden overcome with berries. How to use a soil blocker and how it helps with planting seeds. What to do with a leaning tree. Experimenting with watering met…

The basics of charging a battery ahead of freezing temperatures. How helpful are block heaters? Vehicle recall rules. Diagnosing heater problems. Tire pressure gauge troubleshooting. Cleaning headlights. RPM surges. Tire recommendations. How necessary are fuel additives? Is it okay to use the remote start on really cold days? Can tire pressure sens…

Tech Talk Topics include:VPN marketing… is it worth all the work for you to have it?Wireless provider standardsPotential tariff impact on the cost computer equipmentImportance of cloud backupIcloud scamsThe internet ego olympicsInstalling a SSDOrganizing photos digitally

Garden resolutions for the new year. Building a raised bed garden. Growing an espalier fruit tree.Consider letting the lawn and garden grow to welcome animals and pollinators. Which fertilizer to use on house plants in the winter? Getting cacti to bloom. Squash vine borer infestation. What to know before digging a new garden space. Planting black w…

Batteries being strained in the cold weather. Why letting the car warm up is so important. Tire pressure issues. Problems with the computer system in newer cars. Mice getting inside the car. Monitoring the quality of your battery. Which battery to charge if there are two batteries in a vehicle? Why are spark plugs getting more expensive?Ask our car…

Steve and Doug start the program with a reminder to GROUND OUT. Discussion topics:Pumping the breaks on AIA call on recovering data and photos from an old phoneRestoring from the cloudWiping things from googlePrinter consumables PC Cleaners

How this cold weather is impacting our lawns and gardens. How to protect your plants from frost. Pruning apple trees. Why does Minnesota produce great apples? The best breeds of apples for eating and cooking. Getting rid of spider mites. Gophers causing issues in the garden. Caring for lavender plants. Planning a trip to the arboretum.Learn more fr…

Does wind chill have an impact on your vehicle? What to know about warming up your vehicle on a cold day. What happens if you prolong oil changes? Rules to charging batteries. Fixing malfunctioning headlights. What could be causing sensor issues in your vehicle? Auto tailgate not working properly. Reducing frost on windshield. Heat problems in the …

Steve and Doug are back for more Tech Talk They kick off the show with a discussion about the ethical use of AI and the challenge it presents to sorting out what’s real and what’s not. Doug gets into how to best clean out your hard drive and gain speed (with PrivaZer)Steve also praises the value in purchasing factory refurbs instead of new machines…

How this December rain and these mild temperatures could have an impact on the lawn. Propagating passion flowers. Caring for Meyer Lemon Trees. Growing a rubber plant. Keeping a Christmas Cactus alive. Common houseplant mistakes. Pruning magnolia trees. Moving Peony plants. Repotting aloe vera. Donating plants. Can we still dormant seed the lawn?Le…

Is it too warm for snow tires? Why battery cables could come loose. How necessary is it to keep a battery clean? All wheel drive problems. Oil filter quality differences. Radio scanning issues. Warming up the car in winter. How long can you drive on a spare tire?Ask our car care expert Nick Stoffel of Lloyds Automotive. Visit lloydsautomotive.net 6…

Today's Topics: Does a macbook need virus protection?Steve and Doug take calls on security concerns about iPads and security camera systems.Doug calls for longer usage of computer machines, you can use them longer than you think.Steve and Doug talk about last minute tech gifts… get a gift card don’t guess!…

What can gardeners do in the winter? Garden gift ideas for the holidays. Amaryllis bulbs can make the perfect present and how to maintain them. Why a clematis may not be blooming. How to get a Christmas cactus to bloom and what fertilizer to use. Controlling quack grass. Getting a poinsettia to turn red. Questions about growing Marijuana. Getting r…

Why would a car be running rough in the cold weather? Why do some vehicles run out of oil faster than others? Brake light on the dashboard intermittently turning on and off. Jumper cable tips. How long should it take for a car to warm up after sitting outside in the cold? Leaving old gas in the tank. Flashing engine light concerns. Fuel additives i…

Tech Talk with Steve Thomson and Doug SwinhartStatic season is here... don't forget to ground out! Also, how not to get scammed by those Phishing schemes and what to do with your old machine that runs on Windows 7.

Poinsettia advice. Dormant seeding with some snow on the ground. Should we worry about critters in the winter? Difference between moles and voles. Is it time to trim trees? Controlling the bloom on your Christmas cactus. What it takes to be a master gardener. Caring for asparagus. What to do with bulbs that haven’t been planted yet. Getting rid of …

Concerns over too much oil in a vehicle. Noise coming from the fan. When new shocks are needed. Problems with radio antenna. The tire pressure sensor won’t turn off. Cold weather having an impact on the fan. How necessary is undercoating spray? Ask our car care expert Nick Stoffel of Lloyds Automotive. Visit lloydsautomotive.net 651-228-1316…

Steve and Doug are back to get techy. Topics include network collisions, reboots, Chromebook versatility ft. caller George and external hard drives.

How snow can help soil. Tips for growing herbs indoors. Finding fungus gnats in your plants. Christmas cactus care. There is a lot happening at the arboretum even in the winter time and they have great food. Pruning Arborvitae. It is time to trim oaks. Problems with jade plants. Soil for lemon trees. Pruning Apple trees. Winter care for outside pla…

What to know about oil in your vehicle. Checking the transmission fluid. Problems with gear shifting. Why your gas tank may not be filling all the way. Issues with truck tailgates. When rust becomes a bigger problem. The value of switching to winter tires. Air not blowing on windshield. Persistent warning lights.Ask our car care expert Nick Stoffel…

Steve and Doug get into the privacy vs security debate, spoofing that leads to invasion and buying a new laptop this holiday season for caller Jerry!

It's a perfect time to dormant seed. Caring for a Christmas cactus.Good plants to give as gifts this holiday season. A good low maintenance plant for the home. Tips for drying flowers. What it takes to be a master gardener. Fungus gnats. Common mistakes homeowners make with house plants. Caring for fruit trees in Minnesota. Is it okay to water plan…

How necessary are battery maintainers during the winter? Issues with hotrods. Does antifreeze deteriorate? How long do tire pressure sensors last? Exhaust manifold problems. Vehicles having issues not starting the cold. Leaking transmission fluid. Starting a vehicle with a broken key fob. What the check engine light is telling you. Testing batterie…

Today on the show we discussed how tightening and troubleshooting goes a long way in helping your tech operate properly, the importance of keeping your information secure and away from the dark web, and keeping your tech tested and powered throughout the home! We talk all things tech and take your questions and concerns for your tech that you may h…

Preserving flowers. Saving tulip bulbs until they are ready to plant. Caring for succulents. When brussels sprouts grow best. Where to keep plants in your house in the winter. Wrapping plants. Is it time to dormant seed? Getting rid of bugs on inside plants. Is it too late to plant perennials? Should plants be cut in the winter? Learn more from hor…

What the warning lights in your vehicle mean. When to get an oil change. Heater issues. Remote start problems. When winter tires are needed. Solving transmission problems. Life of batteries. Oil leaks. Ball joint replacement. Ask our car care expert Nick Stoffel of Lloyds Automotive. Visit lloydsautomotive.net 651-228-1316…

In today’s episode we talked about the Netflix buffering issue millions of people experienced Friday night during the Paul-Tyson fight, as well as VPNs and password protection and overall software security - that and much more as Doug Swinhart is here to answer your technical questions on Tech Talk!

What plants need the most water right now. Confused lilacs. Getting rid of bugs in plants that are brought inside.. Controlling wild raspberry bushes. Trimming asparagus. Thinking about fertilizing the lawn. Protecting plants from snow and critters this winter. Is it time to plant tulips? Earwig problems. Using the right mulch. Protecting rose bush…

When is it time to put snow tires on your vehicle? Heat compressor issues. Solving stalling problems. When is a warranty worth it? Identifying wheel noises. Directional tires. Tire pressure in cold weather. Damage caused by potholes.Ask our car care expert Nick Stoffel of Lloyds Automotive. Visit lloydsautomotive.net 651-228-1316…

For Tech Talk today, we chatted about the importance of battery back ups, power supplies, some Windows 11 troubleshooting, browser questions and more as Doug Swinhart answers any and all questions regarding your technology and devices on Tech Talk!