Author: @bazbt3

Husband, father. 2 cats, 1 dog. Cleveland Browns fan. Engineer. English. Prefers asynchronous chat (unreliable). Bought first computer 1981, asking silly questions online since 1997.

Peace

A few weeks ago I posted about a peace lily plant I’d inherited and somehow kept alive for a few months. I don’t think it’s got long left.

The advice I was given was it was over-watered. Or under-watered. Or needed more light. Or had contracted a plant disease (despite not being close to any others for a couple of years).

So this is what I’m left with.

A sad and utterly bedraggled peace lily plant.
A sad and utterly bedraggled peace lily plant.

After cutting all the dead stems off I teased the dead half of the root structure away and threw it out, worked some compost in and around the roots, gave it a light watering and will leave it a week before its next feed.

Oh, the pot liner had drain holes in the base, and I’d simply not thought to empty the stagnant water out again – which is why I got a big mug full last time. Yes, of course I sniffed it this time!

The worst that’s going to happen is it dies and I buy a fourth. Or a cactus. But after seeing a couple of recent new leaves I’m hopeful I can assist in resurrecting itself.

Or, maybe I’ll do a search for “un-killable house or office plants”!

No, plastic is not an option.

For now.

Moist

I acquired a peace lily plant when my last boss retired in November. I feel a great responsibility to keep it alive. I’d killed 2 of his previous plants and bought this a couple of years ago to make amends.

A desk with a peace lily plant in a white pot. To its right is an IKEA watering can. To the right of that are some papers. In the foreground is a mug with a cat motif, it is full of a very dark brown liquid.
A desk with a peace lily plant in a white pot. To its right is an IKEA watering can. To the right of that are some papers. In the foreground is a mug with a cat motif, it is full of a very dark brown liquid.

Until recently it positively thrived in my care, but this week it drooped. It has browning leaves too despite it being watered to the same schedule and with the same volume of water my ex-boss used. (Science)!

Now if you hear in mind that I’ve been poking my finger into the soil between twice-weekly watering sessions, and it’s always been just slightly moist. But today I tested at 180ā° from my usual place.

The photo caption mentions a dark brown liquid. My poking finger submerged up to the first knuckle.

Oops!

Kitchen roll pushed into the pot absorbed some of the surface water, but it just kept on absorbing and absorbing andā€¦

I cradled the plant and tipped up the pot over my mug (which needed a wash anyway). Most went in the mug.

Next week I’ll trim the dead leaves.

It’s a plan.

Phase 2: I’ll buy a soil moisture meter/monitor.

And, erā€¦

That’s it folks.

Books

I replied to a toot by @greghiggins457@appdot.net about the frequency of new books sent by ‘Book Bub’.

“I signed up for Book Bub a while back. Everyday I get free books on my Kindle thanks to this email. Problem is I am not a fast reader. I have so many unread books on my Kindle that will probably last me the rest of my life. I need to learn how to read faster and read more consistently.”

A slightly enhanced version of my reply follows.

Greg’s words got me thinking of where I am, not actually reading, but definitely collecting books for some time in the future when the ‘book thing’ switches on againā€¦

About 40 years ago I began to make weekly or slightly less frequent visits to a used books market stall that bought the books back for half the purchase price. Their science fiction collection drew 100% of my interest and I struggled mightily to come away with only a few at a time.

As an already insatiable reader I learned to read fast, to get the meat out of a story, and maybe a little more. Books l loved I kept, the rest eventually got returned. I read them all. And things slowed down a bit.

The candidates for keepers I read again, more slowly this time, and culled those that didn’t entertain me. So things slowed down a bit more.

Finally I read again what was left, savouring the nuanced stuff I’d inevitably find in and between the lines. And there I found the keepers.

A 1978 reprint of Isaac Asimov's 'Pebble' in the Sky' novel. Originally purchased used for Ā£0.40 I could have got Ā£0.20 from the market stall if I'd returned it. But I did not. (The turned over corners are not my doing, I abhor it).
A 1978 reprint of Isaac Asimov’s ‘Pebble’ in the Sky’ novel. Originally purchased used for Ā£0.40 I could have got Ā£0.20 from the market stall if I’d returned it. But I did not. (The turned over corners are not my doing, I abhor it).

Eventually life changed and I stopped visiting that market stall. I found enough to fill the void. Family, responsibility, different stuff.

Retirement’s a few years off yet, but close enough that I know what I’ll be doing for at least a part of it.

And last year I found another market stall, one town over.

Big data

I’ll start with a link to the Wikipedia page on Big data. Though the summary is pretty easy to follow, I’ll be honest in admitting to not reading the rest.

Right, @GwenfarsGarden@rage.love posted this on Friday under the content warning Palestine/NHS action: keep Palantir out of the NHS (UK) (link) and this text:

Palantir, a US spyware company that provides technology enabling Israel’s genocide in Palestine, has been awarded a lucrative contract to develop and maintain a platform to store NHS patient data ā€“ known as the Federated Data Platform. It is now in the process of being rolled-out by NHS trusts in England.

Alongside health workers and patient groups, Palestine Solidarity Campaign are calling for the contract and roll-out of the platform to be stopped.

Write to the Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Minister of State Karin Smyth, to demand the contract is revoked and the roll-out stopped:

https://palestinecampaign.eaction.online/palantirnhs

# Palestine #NHS

Since 2020 I’ve measured the likelihood changes will be reversed by how embarrassing it’d be to decision makers.

My journey along this road started with responding by email to poorly-thought out covid strategies at the high school my daughters attended and my youngest daughter still does – and their absolute intransigence after they’d publishedā€¦ Zero consultation with parents, see?

So, Palantir:

How efficient will it be to use them vs the harm to individuals here? Not very. By that I mean it’s likely to be cost-effective vs most of the previous attempts at unifying health data

How efficient vs how harmful to all of us? Bad. Not bad right away, but bad when the government relies on their data to make decisions about how the little people are treated. Bad because the government will uncritically examine datasets too large to comprehend and jump intoā€¦ aaahā€¦

A diagram of the generation and common application of big data. (Wikipedia, by user Jouasse).
A diagram of the generation and common application of big data. (Wikipedia, by user Jouasse).

So, I’m considering signing the petition.

Why “considering” though?

It’s not at all complicated but if you’ve got this far I’d like to ask you to read the Wikipedia article about the company, and especially the section on Controversies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palantir_Technologies

The decision makers in this case must have known about the company’s history. They must have known about the ramping up of fascism in the United States. They must have known that once data is made accessible to Palantir it won’t stay there, whatever agreements and whatever language in those agreements tries to keep it safe.

So for me it’s pointless signing another petition, we’re being governed by a party with knee-jerk reactions to every decision that must be made. It’s worse than the previous shower of shite.

But in this case we’re throwing away the Ā£millions (Ā£billions?) thrown at previous attempts to bring together health data and throwing more at a company with a proven track record.

And I don’t mean a proven good one.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/us/cambridge-analytica-palantir.html

As a start-up called Cambridge Analytica sought to harvest the Facebook data of tens of millions of Americans in summer 2014, the company received help from at least one employee at Palantir Technologies, a top Silicon Valley contractor to American spy agencies and the Pentagon.

Remember them? Consider how likely it is that it was not just restricted to Americans (US publications always show bias to American issues and limit scope to Americans, no offence intended to Americans).

Anyway, I’m pretty sure that I’ve used the following quote for a past #QuoteSunday:

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat itā€

ā€“ George Santayana.

Yeah, I know this is usually used for the bigger big stuff, but it works for me.

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 Ā£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, andā€¦ (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.

  1. 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.” ↩
  2. 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:

Pumpkin puppy, a cavapoo dog in need of a haircut.
Pumpkin puppy, a cavapoo dog in need of a haircut.

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 hairā€¦

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 ā–¶ļø.

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.
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, butā€¦

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.

Appleā€™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.
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.

  1. 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. ↩