ten things that could be journal entries, but aren't
I am borrowing this convenient bullet-point style from
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lizzbeth1
.
1. It has been nearly four weeks since I last went soaring. This weekend, one of the tow planes is back in service but no instructor is scheduled for either saturday or sunday.
2. Some types of computer books (I had some ranging from 4 to 12 years old) sure get worthless quickly. Half Price Books is cool for happily accepting a box of books to recycle.
3. I picked up a radio controlled plane last week. It's fun! I haven't even crashed into anything yet, either. There is a nice park near my house that offers lots of open space.
4. Near the corner of my garage door, there is a wasp nest (wasps are good, so I leave them alone). Recently a spider has decided to build a web directly in front of the wasp nest. I wonder about the sanity of that spider.
5. I have turned off greylisting on my mail server. I think this time it's permanent. I decided that the disadvantage of greylisting (delayed mail delivery, occasional loss of legitimate mail) outweighed the disadvantage of not having it (more spam). I can control the spam volume problem in other ways.
6. I did some cursory analysis of my incoming spam. Of the email that fails SPF filtering (all of which is guaranteed to be forged email), 15% is from greg@hewgill.com; 31% is from various other @hewgill.com addresses; 18% is from email addresses associated in some way with VNC (my email address is in the VNC whats-new file); and the remaining 36% are from other domains.
7. Some international calling cards are a huge scam. I got one that offers a low rate of 1.9 cents per minute to Greece. $10 should get you nearly 9 hours of talk time, right? Well, there's a $1.99 per-call connection charge (that's 104 minutes), plus a $0.59 biweekly fee for just having the card (that's another 31 minutes). I'll be lucky if I get a couple of hours out of it.
8. Mono is really cool. I was able to get SOAP client stuff running in C# on Linux with no problems at all. It just works.
9. I'm trying to renew my ability in French. It has been 17 years since I last took a French course, yet I can still struggle along. I got a French review book and some readers with collections of short stories. I think I should get a dictionary too. Meanwhile, I want to continue learning Spanish, I want to continue taking informal classes in Japanese, and I am continuing to practice Esperanto.
10. last wednesday were very hot. Hottest tacos so far, we figure. Wow.
lizzbeth1
.
1. It has been nearly four weeks since I last went soaring. This weekend, one of the tow planes is back in service but no instructor is scheduled for either saturday or sunday.
2. Some types of computer books (I had some ranging from 4 to 12 years old) sure get worthless quickly. Half Price Books is cool for happily accepting a box of books to recycle.
3. I picked up a radio controlled plane last week. It's fun! I haven't even crashed into anything yet, either. There is a nice park near my house that offers lots of open space.
4. Near the corner of my garage door, there is a wasp nest (wasps are good, so I leave them alone). Recently a spider has decided to build a web directly in front of the wasp nest. I wonder about the sanity of that spider.
5. I have turned off greylisting on my mail server. I think this time it's permanent. I decided that the disadvantage of greylisting (delayed mail delivery, occasional loss of legitimate mail) outweighed the disadvantage of not having it (more spam). I can control the spam volume problem in other ways.
6. I did some cursory analysis of my incoming spam. Of the email that fails SPF filtering (all of which is guaranteed to be forged email), 15% is from greg@hewgill.com; 31% is from various other @hewgill.com addresses; 18% is from email addresses associated in some way with VNC (my email address is in the VNC whats-new file); and the remaining 36% are from other domains.
7. Some international calling cards are a huge scam. I got one that offers a low rate of 1.9 cents per minute to Greece. $10 should get you nearly 9 hours of talk time, right? Well, there's a $1.99 per-call connection charge (that's 104 minutes), plus a $0.59 biweekly fee for just having the card (that's another 31 minutes). I'll be lucky if I get a couple of hours out of it.
8. Mono is really cool. I was able to get SOAP client stuff running in C# on Linux with no problems at all. It just works.
9. I'm trying to renew my ability in French. It has been 17 years since I last took a French course, yet I can still struggle along. I got a French review book and some readers with collections of short stories. I think I should get a dictionary too. Meanwhile, I want to continue learning Spanish, I want to continue taking informal classes in Japanese, and I am continuing to practice Esperanto.
10. last wednesday were very hot. Hottest tacos so far, we figure. Wow.
Russ told me about this journal entry of yours.
I have a French dictionary to give away! I recently asked Russ if he wanted it, but he didn't need it. Would you like it? It's an old paperback and still functional.
Let me know. I can leave it with Russ at RussCon for you to pick up.
=========
By the way, please consider donating books to Literacy Austin. They have a BookFest every year to raise money. They are non-profit.
Or donate to the Austin Public Library. They either use or sell books. They too have a book sale to raise money.
Paperbacks (fiction) can be donated at J&J Books (on Burnet just south of Anderson) for credit so you can buy used books for only 1/4 price. It's independently owned. Great place.
Goodwill is not good for books. They toss stuff they don't use. According to Austin Ecology Action.
I have a French dictionary to give away! I recently asked Russ if he wanted it, but he didn't need it. Would you like it? It's an old paperback and still functional.
Let me know. I can leave it with Russ at RussCon for you to pick up.
=========
By the way, please consider donating books to Literacy Austin. They have a BookFest every year to raise money. They are non-profit.
Or donate to the Austin Public Library. They either use or sell books. They too have a book sale to raise money.
Paperbacks (fiction) can be donated at J&J Books (on Burnet just south of Anderson) for credit so you can buy used books for only 1/4 price. It's independently owned. Great place.
Goodwill is not good for books. They toss stuff they don't use. According to Austin Ecology Action.
ghewgill
: Re: French dictionary....2004-09-18T05:58:28Z
Yes, a French dictionary would be great! I've got a book of Russ', so we can trade. Thanks!
Thanks for the tip re Literacy Austin, I'll keep them in mind.
The books I gave to HPB for recycling were truly useless, I'm afraid. Things like Peter Norton's Programming Guide for Windows 3.0, IBM PC and PS/2 Video Systems, Writing Virtual Device Drivers for Windows 95, Windows NT Network Programming. I wouldn't wish them on anybody.
Thanks for the tip re Literacy Austin, I'll keep them in mind.
The books I gave to HPB for recycling were truly useless, I'm afraid. Things like Peter Norton's Programming Guide for Windows 3.0, IBM PC and PS/2 Video Systems, Writing Virtual Device Drivers for Windows 95, Windows NT Network Programming. I wouldn't wish them on anybody.
goulo
2004-09-18T05:38:58Z
Pri via unua punkto - evidente vi devas klubkunveni! Via Esperanto rustiĝas. Ĉar temis pri via feliĉa naskiĝtago, mi rezistis mencii la erarojn en via naskiĝtaga enskribo. :)
ghewgill
2004-09-18T06:03:54Z
Jes, mi pensis pri tio. Eble mi tie ĉeestos. :)
Nun, diru al mi la erarojn! Mi ne povas lerni, sen korektado.
Nun, diru al mi la erarojn! Mi ne povas lerni, sen korektado.
goulo
2004-09-18T06:26:02Z
Nu bone!
Mi naskiĝtagon -> Mia naskiĝtago
recevis -> ricevis
fari aferojn, kiu -> kiuj
verkas aferojn, kiu estas neurĝe sed amuza -> kiuj estas neurĝaj sed amuzaj
sajne -> ŝajne
pri mia naskiĝtagon -> naskiĝtago
Ankaŭ ŝajnas ke mi kutime vidas "enskribo" anstataŭ "afiŝo".
Mi naskiĝtagon ne tro gravas al mi. Ĝi estas nur alia tago, mi ne malfeliĉas se iu ajn malmemoras ĝin. Tamen, mi recevis bonvolojn de mia gepatroj, de mia avino (per poŝto), de du homoj ĉe lernu, kaj de cetan. Dankon!
Mi naskiĝtage ŝatas fari aferojn, kiu min plaĉas. Hodiaŭ mi ŝoforas mian bonan aŭton, mi manĝos meztagmanĝon ĉe la pinto de Mount Bonnell, kaj mi ofice verkas aferojn, kiu estas neurĝe sed amuza. Poste, mi manĝos nukleatakojn ĉe nugget kun aliuloj. Eble ili scias pri mia naskiĝtago, eble ne. Negravas.
La plej grava afero estas ke mi amuziĝas. Mi rimarkas ke ĉi tiu afiŝo eble sajne kontraŭdiras tian senton, sed ne. Se mi volus sciigi ĉiujn pri mia naskiĝtagon, mi angle skribus ĉi tiun afiŝon!
Mi naskiĝtagon -> Mia naskiĝtago
recevis -> ricevis
fari aferojn, kiu -> kiuj
verkas aferojn, kiu estas neurĝe sed amuza -> kiuj estas neurĝaj sed amuzaj
sajne -> ŝajne
pri mia naskiĝtagon -> naskiĝtago
Ankaŭ ŝajnas ke mi kutime vidas "enskribo" anstataŭ "afiŝo".
ghewgill
2004-09-18T15:57:45Z
Dankon! Feliĉe, tiuj eraroj estas tutaj stultaj eraroj, mi devas pli bone koni. Eble oni bezonas komunumon "lingvokritikado". Mi pli ofte tie enskribus... :)
nugget
2004-09-18T13:22:46Z
1. Why are wasps good?
2. I have leftovers from taco night if anyone cares to revisit the pain. ;)
2. I have leftovers from taco night if anyone cares to revisit the pain. ;)
pasketti
2004-09-18T15:06:54Z
Wasps eat other bugs. As long as they don't build a nest right outside a door, I leave them alone too.
ghewgill
2004-09-18T15:36:20Z
I'll take a quote from my favorite nonscientific bug book, the Texas Bug Book:
Common Names: Paper Wasp, Yellowjacket
Scientific Name: Order Hymenoptera, family Vespidae, Polistes spp.
Size: Adult—3/4" to 1"
Identification: Yellow and black wasps that are usually called yellowjackets. When wings are at rest, they are folded and held out to the side rather than folded over the back like other wasps. Nests are papery, slightly rounded, 4 inches or greater in diamater; they hang upside down.
Biology and Life Cycle: Social insects living with queens, males and sterile female workers. Overwintered and mated females start nests in the spring in a sheltered place. Cells of a paperlike substance are built from a single connection to a structure or plant in a shady location. Several females may work together. One egg is laid in each cell. Larvae hatch and are fed chewed-up insects and spiders. When ready to pupate, they spin silk caps to close off the cells. Queens lay fertilized eggs that become females. Fertilized female larvae (new queens) are fed a special diet and are the only ones to survive the winter. They are the last batch of females to hatch in the fall. All others, males and females, die. Surviving queens hibernate in dense foliage such as dead plam leaves or in rubbish or old squirrel nests.
Habitat: Sheltered spots under the eaves and overhangs of buildings. Also in barns, chicken houses, and other outbuildings. Adults feed on flower nectar or fruit that has been bird-pecked.
Feeding Habits: Wasp larvae are carnivorous and are fed moth and butterfly larvae that are chewed up by the adult wasp workers.
Economic Importance: Control of several troublesome caterpillars of moths and butterflies.
Natural Control: Spiders. Splash water on nest to knock wasps off, then move nest to higher but similar location in the shade. Don't try this if you're allergic to wasp stings or if you are chicken!
Organic Control: Soapy water or citrus oil products if the nest is in a problem area. Do this only as a last resort—these insects are very beneficial.
Insight: Texas yellowjackets are similar but live in nests in the ground and are more aggressive. The wasp's most serious enemies are humans with aerosol spray cans.
Later on in the book there is a story that mentions some wasps that got a lot more aggressive because a spider built a web nearby. Perhaps I'll help the spider relocate.
Paper Wasp
Common Names: Paper Wasp, Yellowjacket
Scientific Name: Order Hymenoptera, family Vespidae, Polistes spp.
Size: Adult—3/4" to 1"
Identification: Yellow and black wasps that are usually called yellowjackets. When wings are at rest, they are folded and held out to the side rather than folded over the back like other wasps. Nests are papery, slightly rounded, 4 inches or greater in diamater; they hang upside down.
Biology and Life Cycle: Social insects living with queens, males and sterile female workers. Overwintered and mated females start nests in the spring in a sheltered place. Cells of a paperlike substance are built from a single connection to a structure or plant in a shady location. Several females may work together. One egg is laid in each cell. Larvae hatch and are fed chewed-up insects and spiders. When ready to pupate, they spin silk caps to close off the cells. Queens lay fertilized eggs that become females. Fertilized female larvae (new queens) are fed a special diet and are the only ones to survive the winter. They are the last batch of females to hatch in the fall. All others, males and females, die. Surviving queens hibernate in dense foliage such as dead plam leaves or in rubbish or old squirrel nests.
Habitat: Sheltered spots under the eaves and overhangs of buildings. Also in barns, chicken houses, and other outbuildings. Adults feed on flower nectar or fruit that has been bird-pecked.
Feeding Habits: Wasp larvae are carnivorous and are fed moth and butterfly larvae that are chewed up by the adult wasp workers.
Economic Importance: Control of several troublesome caterpillars of moths and butterflies.
Natural Control: Spiders. Splash water on nest to knock wasps off, then move nest to higher but similar location in the shade. Don't try this if you're allergic to wasp stings or if you are chicken!
Organic Control: Soapy water or citrus oil products if the nest is in a problem area. Do this only as a last resort—these insects are very beneficial.
Insight: Texas yellowjackets are similar but live in nests in the ground and are more aggressive. The wasp's most serious enemies are humans with aerosol spray cans.
Later on in the book there is a story that mentions some wasps that got a lot more aggressive because a spider built a web nearby. Perhaps I'll help the spider relocate.
leroy_brown242
2004-09-18T16:06:48Z
I'm still killing the bastards.
bovineone
2004-09-19T20:40:55Z
but butterflies are so pretty. :)
2004-09-18T05:33:38Z