Today is the day Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg. Normally I wouldn't post something like this, but I find it very fascinating that upon this momentous date I also hit my current record of Ninety-Five (concurrent) Firefox Tabs.
Trivial and pointless, I know, but oddly coincidental. And look, ma, no swap! I haven't even maxed out my RAM yet... (And technically it's 96 since I just looked up that Wikipedia link.)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Nemesis, Conquered
I have won. For the past week, a mosquito has been annoying me, flying around - just enough to be audible - about twenty minutes after I go to bed and shut the light off. Abominably an elusive chap, he naturally was not there when I turned the light back on to look.
To spite me and tempt fate (apparently), he decided to prowl while I was still up last night (though how a mosquito can prowl seriously, I surely don't know), but I'd have to be a magician to have caught him. Or at least have had my glasses on. Every few minutes he'd fly close enough to be heard or caught sight of, but promptly disappear again, thereby postponing my bedtime, cumulatively, by more than is necessary to mention.
But Sir Mosquito was finally undone. When I woke up this morning he was placidly set upon the window, up high, as I lay down below. He was too slow; I promptly dispatched him to the realms of that which is past and shall return no more. I have won. I have beaten the mosquito.
To spite me and tempt fate (apparently), he decided to prowl while I was still up last night (though how a mosquito can prowl seriously, I surely don't know), but I'd have to be a magician to have caught him. Or at least have had my glasses on. Every few minutes he'd fly close enough to be heard or caught sight of, but promptly disappear again, thereby postponing my bedtime, cumulatively, by more than is necessary to mention.
But Sir Mosquito was finally undone. When I woke up this morning he was placidly set upon the window, up high, as I lay down below. He was too slow; I promptly dispatched him to the realms of that which is past and shall return no more. I have won. I have beaten the mosquito.
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Pod Is Cast
I've discovered podcasting. It's a fascinating phenomenon, that one subscribes to what are, effectively, (mini) radio shows and listens when one pleases. I don't quite know why it fascinates me so. Perhaps it's the fact that, really, I'm an audio/radio geek at heart and if I have the choice of watching, listening, or reading, I will listen while I work on something else.
Whatever the reason, really, it's fascinating. Also internet radio. I still listen to Thistle & Shamrock, but it's also very nice to be able to listen to other celtic music or British folk any time, 24/7. And while I'm on this internet audio kick, I should also tell you that I've been listening to Three Men in a Boat during my otherwise quiet, music, or NPR saturated driving time. Excellent book, by the way. Timeless British hilarity cannot be had much better. All this to say that I downloaded it from Librivox, which aims to record, through volunteer vocal chords, any and every book in the public domain. Tall order, but good results so far. There is the occasional quality issue - some people, well meaning and talented as they may be, do need some coaching to make their reading aloud palatable - but the enjoyment has largely outweighed that particular chapter.
I should also note that the iPod shuffle excels at audiobooks, as long as you don't do the shuffle part. It's a book-on-a-stick that remembers where you left off!
If I had a decent mic and less cumbersome recording setup, I'd consider doing a State of the Stickman podcast to top my extended family's penchant for weekly/monthly/otherwise periodic email narratives of goings-on.
Whatever the reason, really, it's fascinating. Also internet radio. I still listen to Thistle & Shamrock, but it's also very nice to be able to listen to other celtic music or British folk any time, 24/7. And while I'm on this internet audio kick, I should also tell you that I've been listening to Three Men in a Boat during my otherwise quiet, music, or NPR saturated driving time. Excellent book, by the way. Timeless British hilarity cannot be had much better. All this to say that I downloaded it from Librivox, which aims to record, through volunteer vocal chords, any and every book in the public domain. Tall order, but good results so far. There is the occasional quality issue - some people, well meaning and talented as they may be, do need some coaching to make their reading aloud palatable - but the enjoyment has largely outweighed that particular chapter.
I should also note that the iPod shuffle excels at audiobooks, as long as you don't do the shuffle part. It's a book-on-a-stick that remembers where you left off!
If I had a decent mic and less cumbersome recording setup, I'd consider doing a State of the Stickman podcast to top my extended family's penchant for weekly/monthly/otherwise periodic email narratives of goings-on.
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