Author: cdwan

I had not realized, but my celebrity continues to grow.

details

I would like a human hamster wheel please.

I was watering the seedlings this morning when Jen called out to me from the dining room. It didn’t sound urgent, so I continued watering. She said it again, but I was nearly done. By the time I came back off the porch, she was pointing and saying “goldfinch goldfinch goldfinch” over and over. This cute little guy was on the feeder we’ve got right outside the dining room window.

The observer is invited to note that he is in mid-moult, losing his drab winter plumage in favor of the bright colors of spring. During the winter, goldfinches assume a disguise and go around as ordinary LBBs. His wing stripes are ‘worn’ from weather and use. He was quite hungry, and ate at the feeder for several minutes.

Anyone who is considering the application of any April Fools hackery to me is invited to consider the story of the person who did so last year, and got punched.

In my evening stumbles through the web, I found the opening line to Howl by Ginsberg,

“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness”

I wondered to myself, how many of our great statesmen are turning away in disgust at the antics of the whores and greedheads who run things these days? How many of our best and brightest have been tossed on the embers of a 3,000 year war in the middle east, just as it roars to life? How many Mozarts, Teslas, and Edgar Allen Poes are being medicated through high school to a B average and a nice stable desk job?

It made me think that I need to be a little tiny bit more extreme and proactive with things … to keep in mind that we are … you and I … the best minds of our generation.

We should act like it.

Since I am frequently the first to complain, let me also be the first to sing high praise:

I love my cable provider. I love Cox Communications.

You may all giggle and snort now. Yes. Cox for me. Mmmmmm mmmmm.

Moving on:

My story of happiness

Been fixing software since 7am this morning. Stupid jet lag. My software bites. I’m reverting to old version of PERL libraries, because the up to date ones break my stuff. Yeah, that’s going to be fun to explain to a customer.

Going to run an a cappella show on Sat for the same friend for whom I did this once before. His person who was supposed to run the show “melted down” on him, and he called to ask if I would show up and make sure things go smooth. Sure, I can do that. 1.5h south, 1.5h north. It’s closer than the last one.

Spent a while talking to phone support for Vonage about our little “the freakin’ VoIP router needs a reboot twice a day” problem. He advised that I should get a different brand of router. I said “so you’ll be sending me a router that works? I’ll send you back this one that doesn’t?” He was all like “no, the one you have is off warrantee.” What? They sent it to me (“free”), it doesn’t work right, so I get to go buy one that does work right? I considered yelling at him, but thought better of it. I like buying small electronics. Valhalla, I’ll be there later.

Ann Arbor in 1.5 weeks. Right now it looks like this:

Friday: Party with the a cappella kids.
Saturday (lunchtime and afternoon): Party with the LJ people including but not limited to simianpower
Saturday (dinnertime and evening): Drink wine with old a cappella friends
Sunday (morning): Breakfast at freaking ANGELO’s.
Sunday (dinnertime): Catch up with old friends from ERIM and their new kid.

That’s my plan. Off to buy electronics.

I’m looking for some decent standalone software for taking notes in a journal format. Ideally, I would be able to click and drag files, links, pictures, and hunks of text from any other app on my desktop.

Basically, I need something so that I can take notes as I do a custom install or other piece of consulting, and hand them a PDF at the end of the day saying “here’s what I did” rather than taking notes in an ongoing email, or typing it up at the end of the day.

Suggestions?

From redmed:

My mom told a scary / sad story today….Her cat has been missing for ~10 days. Several days before his disappearance, the little dog, Daisy (who is sometimes my icon) was within 3 feet of being nicked by a LARGE owl, but the owl saw my Dad and made a hasty retreat as he came out the door after the dog. The cat and the dog are / were of similar size. The owl is obviously hungry. Or maybe not any more.

Poor cat.

Apparently, my body is still confused as to when I’m supposed to wake up.

Stupid time zones.

St Paul, MN: Marshmallow Peeps have been multiplying outside City Hall as a symbol of protest over last week’s decision to evict the Easter Bunny.

A handful of employees have placed the spongy chick- and rabbit-shaped candies around a City Hall statue of American Indians, along with two signs that temporarily rename the “Vision of Peace” statue as the “Vision of Peeps.”

And also, the world’s smallest kitten. It’s very, very cute.