Where have all the editors gone?

I'm currently reading a book loaned to me by a co-worker. I'm not really enjoying it all that much but I rarely put down a book once I've started one. Today I read the following where the authors are describing a character at a Pilates class:

Instead of sitting at home feeling sorry for herself, she's literally taking
her demons to the mat and fighting them off one after another.

Now I have to continue reading the book to find other glaring grammatical errors, because this book is not a Buffy the Vampire Slayer novel. Demons and ghouls are not characters in this novel.

Shame on the authors (James Patterson and Peter DeJonge) and shame on their editor and shame on the publisher of Beach Road.

XO wi-fi connection grief

I took my cute little XO laptop to the local public library last weekend. The open wi-fi hotspot showed up, I was able to connect, but was unable to browse the Internet. Took it to work to test out the open wi-fi hotspot, also could connect fine but was unable to browse the Internet. Did some research (forums are a fantastic way to share tips) and found what was probably the issue. The XO browser by default uses IPv6. Most routers are still set to only IPv4. It was a simple fix to change it.

Hauled the XO back to work. Again, connected fine but couldn't connect to the Internet. Online again I found some Linux commands to test the network. The XO was connecting to the wireless router but couldn't get beyond it. I then tested the connection with a Windows laptop which had successfully connected with that hotspot in the past. It too couldn't connect. I asked the staff to call the support folks. The support guy called me to ask some questions and said he'd come out in a few hours to swap out the EV-DO card (the wireless is via the Spring cellular network) Figuring there was nothing to lose, I asked the public desk staff if they would mind if I tried rebooting the wireless router. I lifted it up to see if there was an on/off switch and noticed a little button on the side which said Mount/Dismount wireless card. I pressed it figuring it would pop out the card. Instead a little blue light further down the side came on. It was labeled wireless card. Someone must have accidentally hit the button. I tried to connect and get to the Internet with my XO and this time it worked.

This morning I went back to my local public library confident that I'd be able to connect to their wi-fi hotspot. I connected again but couldn't get beyond the router. I asked the reference library if he knew if anyone was able to successfully use the wi-fi. He pulled out a little gadget that showed their two routers were active but couldn't help me beyond that. I'm still unsure if the problem is at their end or with my XO. There are just too many variables.

I went to my local Border's bookstore to try out the free T-Mobile broadband access. That worked like a charm, though the connection was really slow.

Since T-Mobile hotspots exist in most Border's bookstores and Starbuck's coffee outlets we'll probably be taking the XO with us on vacations to keep in touch. I just wish I had more consistent results with open wi-fi hotspots.

My XO laptop has arrived

XO Laptop start-up screen
Originally uploaded by siegel_jackie.

Without fanfare and ahead of schedule, my XO laptop arrived at my door. It came in a small unassuming box.

I'm hoping I see other people in the mesh network, wondering if they just sort of appear on my screen if their XO is on and in my vicinity.

Too much to do right now to devote much time to play. More later. I'll be taking it to work with me one day soon to test out our new wireless Internet access.

I can't help it, I take things literally

There it was, the front page headline of the local daily newspaper "Yolo County youths can work off their library fines -- literally."

What a wonderful idea I thought. Put the deadbeats to work shelving books. But that's not the plan. A new forgiveness program will allow youths to pay off their overdue fines by reading.

I have no problem at all with the program. Anything to get people to read is to be highly commended. Maybe the reporters for the newspaper should do more reading, like a grammar book to learn the proper use of "literally." Come on reporters, you work in a college town for goodness sakes. Just don't use the word since most of the time you use it incorrectly.

Finally enlightened

A little over two years ago S.O.'s place of work was bought out by a company in Minnesota. For the past two years in December we've come home to find a Honey-Baked ham sitting on our doorstop. I don't eat ham and I don't like the smell so don't like my dear guy to eat it when I'm around. I thoughtfully took a couple of vacations with my sister leaving him at home with notes to eat the ham. They are still in the freezer.

The California campus has a very diverse employee base. Some one must have finally complained to the parent company that Muslims, Jews, and vegetarians would not find a ham sitting on their doorstop to be a gift because this year they sent out an email:

As in previous years we would like to spread a little cheer to our employees by
providing you with part of your holiday feast. Holiday hams from Honey
Baked will be delivered to each employees home unless you prefer a turkey or
fruit basket instead.
Those who wish to receive a turkey or fruit basket instead please communicate this preference to HR by days end.
Only those who do not wish to receive a ham need to respond to this e-mail.
Thank you

They give them only one day to respond, but at least they gave them the option. I'm hoping S.O. asks for a turkey.

Google maps read my mind

We decided to join my sister and her friends for a Thanksgiving buffet lunch at a tribal casino near us. We'd never been so checked the directions offered by the casino. It gave simple directions but mainly on the major freeway near us. Interstate 5 to CA-16

The forecast for the day was bright sun, a perfect day for a ride in the convertible. Perfect day for a county road drive, but how to get there by county road instead of the freeway? We had no idea as we'd never been there before. On the casino's direction page was a link to get door-to-door directions via Google Maps.

Put in our home address, the destination address was already populated with the casinos address. Hit "Get directions" and low and behold the directions were from one county road to another to another. 102 to 27 to 89 to 23 to 85B to CA-16. How'd Google know we preferred a back-road route? I'm convinced it read my mind.

The route took us by ostriches, sheep and lambs, cows, horses, and lots of birds of prey. Lunch at the casino was pretty good. They highlight locally grown produce.

The casino environment is not my cup of tea, but the drive and getting together with family and friends made for a great day, all thanks to Google Maps.

It's all about the tools

It's all about the tools
Originally uploaded by siegel_jackie.

Prior attempts to roll out any type of dough have been met with dismal failure. I had some frozen fruit pie filling (home made from home grown fruit) in my freezer. Buying pre-made pie crusts (the only ones I could find lard-free where the ones already in a pie plate) and trying to make a two-crust pie from them met with failure. To do the wonderful fruit justice I decided to finally attempt making and rolling my own pie dough.

First step was assembling all the right tools.

I had seen a pie-bakeoff on the Food Network awhile ago and one of the contestants used a plastic pie form. Put the dough in, zip it up, and roll out the dough to perfect shape. I found one for under $5.00.

So, where would I roll it out? On the kitchen counter, but darn, we've got tile. Yuck. Even with the plastic pie roller thing I'd still end up with unsightly lines. Marble slab purchased ages ago to the rescue. Not really quite big enough, but it would work.

Rolling pin. I bought a fancy T-Fal rolling pin many years ago and never was happy with it. Things stuck to it even with the T-Fal non-stick coating, but with the plastic pie roller thing, I didn't have to worry.

Final tool was the most crucial for my small stature. A step-stool to provide leverage to be able to work the dough from above.

The most important tool stepped in during my exertions and gruntings. Significant other (significantly taller and stronger) stepped in to finish rolling out the dough.

The plastic pie roller thing worked really well and cleaned up better than expected. I may try this again if the pie comes out well.