Fine

Do you know how most governments start their terms with the best of wishes for the people they govern, but soon find that the promises made simply cannot be kept – the scale of the challenge exceeded their imaginations? And so the disillusionment of the people who elected them grows?

Well the current United States administration didn’t begin with the best of intentions for the majority, neither in the short or long terms. It’s painful to watch from the comparative ‘safety’ of a little country just off the western edge of Europe.

A screen grab from an episode of Homestar Runner, with the Strong Bad character sat in front of a broken 'Compy 386' computer. A hand-drawn note pretending to be a genuine computer dialogue is taped on the screen, reading: "This is real. System report: Everything is fine. Nothing is ruined." With an 'ok' button below'. — A screen grab from an episode of Homestar Runner, with the Strong Bad character sat in front of a broken ‘Compy 386’ computer. A hand-drawn note pretending to be a genuine computer dialogue is taped on the screen, reading: “This is real. System report: Everything is fine. Nothing is ruined.” With an ‘ok’ button below’.

And yet we here are facing some of the same challenges as the country presided over by an occupant of a position once termed ‘The Leader of the Free World’.

The difference is stark. At least here the politicians pretend to have thought long and hard about the pain ordinary folks will have to endure for the next 4 years. At least here it’s unlikely any dissent or public protest will be met with literal criminal charges of ‘terrorism’ – although the Conservative government prior to this one did start to change our laws (the magic of the ‘Statutory Instrument’.

And, do you know, not one of our politicians had actually said they’d be a dictator on day 1. I’m certain in years gone by it’s be too much for a public accustomed to at least an illusion that their votes guaranteed a say in policy.

But ordinary people throughout the United States of America voted for a candidate who told them he’d strip away their rights and ignore the Constitution and all the amendments he and his backers don’t get along with.

And they put it all in writing, in public.

It’s not about Trump’s inability to think of anyone but himself any more, and drag vested interests along for the ride. That was his first, chaotic term.

No, there’s a literal book with a script that’s being worked to. The figures who previously lurked in the shadows don’t need to any longer. It’s not as if they feel emboldened to say and do things in public – the very system is now tailored directly for them, to either enrich or grant them previously unimaginable powers.

So why am I writing this now? What’s prompted this today?

Simple really. The past is being whitewashed again. Government sites are removing all references to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion initiatives – past, present and future.

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/arlington-cemetery-scrubs-website-dei/

I visited Arlington Cemetery way back in 1993. You know, back when governments had the best wishes for their people, their past, their future.

Oddbox

We had a first ‘Oddbox’¹ of fruit delivered yesterday. Priced against a major supermarket chain there’s a distinct disadvantage to a consumer having a literal box of fruit delivered weekly or fortnightly², but life’s about so much more right?

The company’s basic premise is that they take the fruit (and vegetables) supermarkets deem too misshapen, too large or too small, or with slight weather damage. It’s ‘wonky’. It stops farmers having to throw produce away because of some ideal.

Back to economics.

For just over £15 including a delivery fee they delivered (in a ‘Modern Milkman’ van) 9 apples, 6 not-quite-ripe bananas, 6 oranges, a punnet of grapes, a similar weight of small sweet tomatoes, and a ripe pineapple.

7 apples and 6 oranges in front of a fruit bowl, the contents of which aren't shown. — 7 apples and 6 oranges in front of a fruit bowl, the contents of which aren’t shown.

I know I’m paying for the convenience and yes, feel good factor, but right now I don’t care. I have to do something to get my blood pressure and cholesterol down and so I think I can support this, at least for a while.

Filing this, in my head, under ‘healthy’.

And now all I have to do is wean my habits off Spam, big meaty breakfasts once a week, kebabs, and… (gulps) chocolate.

So, ideas, that’s why I signed up. You’d think I’d be old enough to know what I want.

Apparently not.

https://www.oddbox.co.uk – tagline: “Rescue the “too wonky” and “too many” direct from farmers to your door, and help fight food waste with every deliciously odd fruit and veg box delivery.” ↩
A term for every 2 weeks, in case you’re thinking instead about a multiplayer video game with a Battle Royale. ↩

Haircut

Pumpkin puppy had her first major haircut a few weeks ago, going from this delightfully shaggy dog:

To this somewhat severe poodle-styled cut:

Pumpkin looking surprised after a rather over-zealous haircut. It'd be fair to say none of us are happy with the cut - making her look more like a poodle than a poodle-Cavalier King Charles spaniel hybrid. — Pumpkin looking surprised after a rather over-zealous haircut. It’d be fair to say none of us are happy with the cut – making her look more like a poodle than a poodle-Cavalier King Charles spaniel hybrid.

Though we’ve used the grooming place for 10 years (with Ruby dog), and though Pumpkin’s first trim was fine we probably won’t be going back again. They completely ignored my wife’s instructions to give Pumpkin an overall trim, just clearing her eyes and arse of the longest hair…

To be fair, she can see now. And her hair will grow to look more like her ‘breed’ should.

Eventually.

CD

My wife bought me a CD (Compact Disc) for Valentine’s Day, for my car, to be played when she’s not in it. Though she respects the influence the band had on the music recording industry she’s not a fan of Talking Heads. She’ll listen to other people’s cover versions though, and is especially fond of Simply Red’s ‘Heaven’. Weird.

But I have a shiny new CD.

Talking Heads 'The Best Of Talking Heads' compilation album. Pumpkin puppy wonders if she can chew the case. No Pumpkin, over my dead body. — Talking Heads ‘The Best Of Talking Heads’ compilation album. Pumpkin puppy wonders if she can chew the case. No Pumpkin, over my dead body.

It took way longer than I wanted to fight my way through the plastic wrapper, the pull tab on the strip running around it was completely hidden. Fingernails scrabbling at the wrapper overlap at the top edge of the case used to be the way I got in, and today was no exception.

Extracted it, placed it in the DVD player under the TV, closed the tray and pressed ▶️.

And this is what I see.

A useless CD track listing in a TV, indicating only Track 1, Track 2, etc., though it does show track durations.

What century are we living in?

Well, right now I am living in the nineteen-seventies and eighties – matching the dates of the tracks (from 1977 to 1988). And do you know, it wasn’t a bad time to grow up after all.

Anyway, for me there’s just one track missing from this 18 track album – and it’s ‘Making Flippy Floppy’.

My favourites on this disc though?

All. They made enough to leave a tremendous legacy, but not enough to get tired of. And while I like to think after all these years I’ve heard all of their stuff I know I haven’t.

Ok, ok.

‘This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)’. It’s on right now.

I wanted it to be played on the last App.net social network’s Monday Night Dance Party, but making the request spelled the DJ’s @ name incorrectly.

Still, here I am.

Reminders

I’ve been using Things 3 for iOS for some months now and generally get along with it well. It’s not as complex or as fully-featured as OmniFocus can be or as difficult for me to use as Todoist, but…

Or I was using it until I saw a summary of how far Apple’s own Reminders has come since the last time I tried to use it.

Apple’s Reminders app has seven power user features worth your attention (9to5mac.com).

A screenshot cropped from the latest Apple Reminders app on my iPhone XS.

After finding a script to export everything¹ from Things into Reminders I’ve spent time over the last day re-adding dates, times and repeats.

And I’m happy to say Reminders now does everything I want from it.

And I can share the responsibility of bringing reminded about things with the rest of my family now. Apart from my wife, who resolutely fails to consider Apple devices as usable.

Heck, it even seems to me to share feature parity and ease of use with OmniFocus from iOS 6. This is a good thing.

I was wrong, I’d missed a couple of quite significant lists. Anyway, unlike the regular share that exports all a list’s entries into a single task, the script at least shares complete entries to other apps. ↩

Cock-a-Leekie

A conversation with my wife, the evening before Valentine’s Day 2025:

Me, “How much cock do you think is in there?”

She, “12%?”

Me, “No, it’s only 2%.”

She, disappointed, “…”.

Me, “How about leekie?”

She, “3%?”

Me, “No, it’s 11%!”

She, “…” again.

She’d bought me a 400g tin of Baxters ‘Cock-A-Leekie” soup. Its blurb:

“The finest leeks, succulent chicken, tender rice and freshly grated juicy carrots – that’s what makes our Cock-a-Leekie soup the very best. No wonder this traditional Scottish recipe is loved by so many.”

– Audrey Baxter.

From the Baxters shop site, a photo of a typical tin of Baxters Cock-A-Leekie soup.

Stains and smells

Dr Beckmann Stain and Stain & Odour removers get bazbt3’s seal of approval.

Pumpkin puppy (7 months) has no opinion.

Rug Doctor Urine Eliminator stands by, hopeful of action.

Two Dr Beckmann brush headed fabric/upholstery/carpet cleaners. Not for use on pets, however stinky. — Two Dr Beckmann brush headed fabric/upholstery/carpet cleaners. Not for use on pets, *however* stinky.

Code for government

Col on Mastodon provided me with more inspiration earlier, this time with a post linking to a Sky News article entitled “Nearly all US aid programmes worldwide frozen after Trump order“. POTUS¹ also questioned the need for FEMA – the USA’s own disaster management body tasked with assisting states in times of dire emergency. But anyway…

I wrote a program designed to guide budding diplomats through the maze of decision making when it comes to aliens.

No, not 👽 aliens, but I’ve no doubt the same logic will be applied when The Space Browns arrive to save my Cleveland Browns.

The program is thankfully devoid of AI, and honestly it’s pretty BASIC.

1 REM ### DecSurpPop v0.01a ###
10 DealWithKids = 0
20 USForeignPolicyKids = 0
30 Month = 0
40 HellFreezesOver = 0
50 WHILE USForeignPolicyKids = 0
60 DealWithKids = 0
70 Month = Month + 3
80 IF Month = 3 THEN Month = 0
90 USForeignPolicyKids = RND()*1776
100 IF USForeignPolicyKids = 1 THEN HellFreezesOver = RND()*2025
110 WEND
120 IF HellFreezesOver = 1 THEN END ELSE GOTO 10

There are no integers on 90 & 100, it sounds too much like “integrate”.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional programmer, so before using this as an integral (ugh!) plank of your basis of government a check of its syntax may be appropriate.

An acronym for the current President Of The United States. Please check which you’re following on any social or government account – it’s been rolled over from the previous incumbent. ↩

Cock and Shito

A few days ago a post on Mastodon caught my eye, posted under the content warning “unexpected lewd at the grocery store”. I’m not linking to it here because I can’t remember the privacy settings of the 2 other participants.

My wife brought both these home 18 months ago; Cock soup is fine, I’ve had it a few times since (giggling each time) and Shito sauce is something everyone must try at least once in their lives.

I liked the Shito so much I took it into work in case anyone wished to share my unfettered joy and give the jar a good home. I felt so lucky when my colleagues only sampled it, such was their love for me.

Anyway, I was moved to take this photo.

A sachet of Cock flavour noodle soup ("a Caribbean favourite") and a jar of Shito hot chilli sauce with shrimp (a Ghanaian staple). — A sachet of Cock flavour noodle soup (“a Caribbean favourite”) and a jar of Shito hot chilli sauce with shrimp (a Ghanaian staple).

@bazbt3 🏡

…powered by empathy and Schadenfreude