I've finally conceded defeat.
In the Sheaffer Pen vs Washing Machine showdown, the washing machine has won.
In spite of my (admittedly rather hamfisted) attempts to resurrect the pen, it has simply had too much damage to the mechanism.
I have another pen of the same make and model, but it sounds "funny". It has an extra "ksching" to the click that my favourite pen didn't have.
I wonder if I could get away with cobbling them together into some kind of Frankenstein's Pen, or if I should just yield to the circle of life and allow the old pen to die in peace?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
An interesting weekend
I wasn't well this weekend. I think I came down with some sort of virus or something. Dizzy spells, stomach pains, a bit of vomiting.
The fun part came yesterday when my eyeball exploded.
Well, it didn't really explode. I popped a blood vessel so half of my eyeball looks like a wall of blood. No real damage, it just feels dry and scratchy. Looks terrible, though.
The fun part came yesterday when my eyeball exploded.
Well, it didn't really explode. I popped a blood vessel so half of my eyeball looks like a wall of blood. No real damage, it just feels dry and scratchy. Looks terrible, though.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Oscar is a Time Lord!
It makes sense. It makes perfect sense.
How else could Oscar possibly fit so much into one trash can unless it was bigger on the inside than it is on the outside?
Time Lord technology! Clearly, his garbage can is a TARDIS that landed on Sesame Street and the chameleon circuit made it blend in with the surrounding junk.
I wonder if Oscar originally looked human, but the chameleon arc technology turned him into a monster to blend in with the other monsters that inexplicably populate the neighbourhood? Maybe the arc has been misplaced amongst all the other junk, which is why he honestly believes he is "a grouch".
I wonder what strange danger is soon to befall the residents of Sesame Street as a result of having a Time Lord in hiding in their neighbourhood? I mean, they're already overrun with monsters - what else could happen to them?
...Unless... Could it be that Oscar is actually hiding from the monsters, who came to Sesame Street to find him and ended up just sticking around because of all the sunny days, sweet air, songs and games? Could the TARDIS have chosen to turn Oscar into a grouch because disguising him as a monster was the perfect way to keep him safe from other monsters?
The plot thickens.
How else could Oscar possibly fit so much into one trash can unless it was bigger on the inside than it is on the outside?
Time Lord technology! Clearly, his garbage can is a TARDIS that landed on Sesame Street and the chameleon circuit made it blend in with the surrounding junk.
I wonder if Oscar originally looked human, but the chameleon arc technology turned him into a monster to blend in with the other monsters that inexplicably populate the neighbourhood? Maybe the arc has been misplaced amongst all the other junk, which is why he honestly believes he is "a grouch".
I wonder what strange danger is soon to befall the residents of Sesame Street as a result of having a Time Lord in hiding in their neighbourhood? I mean, they're already overrun with monsters - what else could happen to them?
...Unless... Could it be that Oscar is actually hiding from the monsters, who came to Sesame Street to find him and ended up just sticking around because of all the sunny days, sweet air, songs and games? Could the TARDIS have chosen to turn Oscar into a grouch because disguising him as a monster was the perfect way to keep him safe from other monsters?
The plot thickens.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Mary Poppins, coming down.
For a while now (about four years, give or take) I've been secretly thinking of myself as Mary Poppins.
Not just because I'm "practically perfect in every way" or because I burst into song at the drop of a hat, but because I seem to be living a very temporary existence. I blow in for a short period of time, and blow out when the wind changes. In the mean time, I'd like to think I try to leave the places I've been slightly better off for having me there.
This doesn't always work. In spite of my good intentions I have left a few places a little worse for having me there, rather than better for it, but I try to be at least friendly and polite enough that no one can really hate me - even if I deserve it.
Anyway, it seems as if I might be staying still for at least a year. Possibly longer. In the same place where I've already been staying for a whole year. And by choice.
All these things seem strange and new to me. Like Mary Poppins renting out a cottage while she runs the local preschool for a year.
And the weird thing is, I had a chance to blow away again. I was offered a really good job in another town. I really wanted to take it too, but I realised I'd probably be looking to blow away again in another year or two, and that wouldn't be fair to them. At least, where I am, they're just happy to have me here for now. Then, when the wind changes, they won't be too terribly put out to see me go.
Strange logic, I know: stay still so I can leave. I'm not sure how well it would work, but I'll find out soon enough, I suppose.
Now, if you'll excuse me, the handle of my umbrella has been trying to get my attention for a while now...
Not just because I'm "practically perfect in every way" or because I burst into song at the drop of a hat, but because I seem to be living a very temporary existence. I blow in for a short period of time, and blow out when the wind changes. In the mean time, I'd like to think I try to leave the places I've been slightly better off for having me there.
This doesn't always work. In spite of my good intentions I have left a few places a little worse for having me there, rather than better for it, but I try to be at least friendly and polite enough that no one can really hate me - even if I deserve it.
Anyway, it seems as if I might be staying still for at least a year. Possibly longer. In the same place where I've already been staying for a whole year. And by choice.
All these things seem strange and new to me. Like Mary Poppins renting out a cottage while she runs the local preschool for a year.
And the weird thing is, I had a chance to blow away again. I was offered a really good job in another town. I really wanted to take it too, but I realised I'd probably be looking to blow away again in another year or two, and that wouldn't be fair to them. At least, where I am, they're just happy to have me here for now. Then, when the wind changes, they won't be too terribly put out to see me go.
Strange logic, I know: stay still so I can leave. I'm not sure how well it would work, but I'll find out soon enough, I suppose.
Now, if you'll excuse me, the handle of my umbrella has been trying to get my attention for a while now...
Monday, March 3, 2008
Stupid People
There is an undeniable and universal truth: People are stupid, and some people are really, really stupid.
Recently, a few people at the university were getting scammed by some phishing emails purporting to be from university admin and asking for their full name, date of birth, username and password.
In response to these emails, the real admin sent out a warning to everyone, telling people not to answer any emails that asked for all of these details as no one official would ever ask for them. Of course, to explain this, they had listed exactly what details these phishing emails were asking for...
And people supplied them.
That's right, people answered the administration email which told them to never give these details to anyone by handing over said details.
There was nothing terribly confusing about this email. It used the word "never" several times and "do not" on a number of occasions. Most people just didn't read it. They scanned the mail, saw something that asked for details and handed them over without really noticing who they were giving them to or for what purpose.
In all fairness, some of these people were not entirely conversant in English and probably didn't have time to sit down and translate the whole thing, but still...
The joy of it all is that, as the person on the front desk, I get to tell these people that they can't get into their accounts because administration declared them as a security risk and blocked their access. I have to explain to them what they did wrong in such a way that encourages them to think about it more carefully next time.
It is hard to think of a polite way to do this. Especially when every part of you is begging to say "You're computer privileges have been revoked due to the fact that you don't read anything and you're stupid. From now on you may only use print material and the actual mail service. Even the use of the telephone is probably not advised."
It's no wonder there are so many scammers out there - it's like taking candy from a baby.
For future reference, no one in any official capacity will ask you to send them confirmation of every piece of security information. No one in any official capacity will ask you to send them your password. No one in any official capacity will ask you to send them any details of worth unless you've asked them to do something first.
Here's the way it works - first, you ask for a service, then they ask for some information. If someone contacts you asking for information when you haven't asked them for anything first, treat it very suspiciously. Especially if they haven't contacted you by name or given you your membership number as proof that they actually do know you you are and have some reason for contacting you.
This goes for banks, universities, PayPal or any other service you might use.
Recently, a few people at the university were getting scammed by some phishing emails purporting to be from university admin and asking for their full name, date of birth, username and password.
In response to these emails, the real admin sent out a warning to everyone, telling people not to answer any emails that asked for all of these details as no one official would ever ask for them. Of course, to explain this, they had listed exactly what details these phishing emails were asking for...
And people supplied them.
That's right, people answered the administration email which told them to never give these details to anyone by handing over said details.
There was nothing terribly confusing about this email. It used the word "never" several times and "do not" on a number of occasions. Most people just didn't read it. They scanned the mail, saw something that asked for details and handed them over without really noticing who they were giving them to or for what purpose.
In all fairness, some of these people were not entirely conversant in English and probably didn't have time to sit down and translate the whole thing, but still...
The joy of it all is that, as the person on the front desk, I get to tell these people that they can't get into their accounts because administration declared them as a security risk and blocked their access. I have to explain to them what they did wrong in such a way that encourages them to think about it more carefully next time.
It is hard to think of a polite way to do this. Especially when every part of you is begging to say "You're computer privileges have been revoked due to the fact that you don't read anything and you're stupid. From now on you may only use print material and the actual mail service. Even the use of the telephone is probably not advised."
It's no wonder there are so many scammers out there - it's like taking candy from a baby.
For future reference, no one in any official capacity will ask you to send them confirmation of every piece of security information. No one in any official capacity will ask you to send them your password. No one in any official capacity will ask you to send them any details of worth unless you've asked them to do something first.
Here's the way it works - first, you ask for a service, then they ask for some information. If someone contacts you asking for information when you haven't asked them for anything first, treat it very suspiciously. Especially if they haven't contacted you by name or given you your membership number as proof that they actually do know you you are and have some reason for contacting you.
This goes for banks, universities, PayPal or any other service you might use.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
My Favourite Line for Today
Catching up on old Agnes comics, I came across this beauty from the days leading up to Valentines Day:
I now love you with the white hot passion that sane people consider inappropriate.I'm going to have to find a way to use that line one day.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Pedestrians!
The more I ride my bike, the more pedestrians really annoy me.
I don't begrudge them the use of the roads and footpaths, but do they really have to walk right up the middle of the path and weave from side to side so you can't safely pass them either way?
And, when they walk in packs, why must they take up every available inch of path even if they don't have to? It never ceases to amaze me how humans will completely take up whatever space is available for them. So you have a path that's wide enough for four people to walk abreast? Those two people walking side-by-side will walk in such a way that they take up all of that space. Then they'll look at you funny for trying to pass them.
I "passed" (with some difficulty) two people the other day - one of whom was carrying an inflatable dolphin. They walked up either side of the path carrying the dolphin in the space between them. Why? There is no reason to take up so much space, just because it's there.
The worst pedestrians are small children and old people. A two-year-old child will veer to your side of the road and walk straight towards you - and it won't even occur to them that the bike heading towards them might be a problem. As for old people? They have every right to go up the middle of the path and take their time. But they don't hear you when you ring your bell or call out "bike!", and then they give you dirty looks when you try to overtake them while they're tottering about in the middle of nowhere.
The thing that really gets me about pedestrians, though, is that they seem to have no concept that they are actually the most flexible people in any given situation. If a pedestrian and a bike both have to negotiate a tricky bit of path at the same time, the pedestrian is better able to (literally) side-step the situation. The cyclist has a few issues, involving speed, size and some certain laws of physics that make it harder for them to move out of the way. Does this occur to people on foot? No. They just keep walking their own track and expect you to move around them.
Strangely, I haven't noticed people wearing mp3 players as being worse behaved. Largely, they seem quite happy to stick to one side of the path and move in a fairly straight line. I would have thought they'd be much more oblivious to the people around them. Maybe they just know they might be and make a point of staying out of everyone's way rather than worry about it?
More people should do that.
I don't begrudge them the use of the roads and footpaths, but do they really have to walk right up the middle of the path and weave from side to side so you can't safely pass them either way?
And, when they walk in packs, why must they take up every available inch of path even if they don't have to? It never ceases to amaze me how humans will completely take up whatever space is available for them. So you have a path that's wide enough for four people to walk abreast? Those two people walking side-by-side will walk in such a way that they take up all of that space. Then they'll look at you funny for trying to pass them.
I "passed" (with some difficulty) two people the other day - one of whom was carrying an inflatable dolphin. They walked up either side of the path carrying the dolphin in the space between them. Why? There is no reason to take up so much space, just because it's there.
The worst pedestrians are small children and old people. A two-year-old child will veer to your side of the road and walk straight towards you - and it won't even occur to them that the bike heading towards them might be a problem. As for old people? They have every right to go up the middle of the path and take their time. But they don't hear you when you ring your bell or call out "bike!", and then they give you dirty looks when you try to overtake them while they're tottering about in the middle of nowhere.
The thing that really gets me about pedestrians, though, is that they seem to have no concept that they are actually the most flexible people in any given situation. If a pedestrian and a bike both have to negotiate a tricky bit of path at the same time, the pedestrian is better able to (literally) side-step the situation. The cyclist has a few issues, involving speed, size and some certain laws of physics that make it harder for them to move out of the way. Does this occur to people on foot? No. They just keep walking their own track and expect you to move around them.
Strangely, I haven't noticed people wearing mp3 players as being worse behaved. Largely, they seem quite happy to stick to one side of the path and move in a fairly straight line. I would have thought they'd be much more oblivious to the people around them. Maybe they just know they might be and make a point of staying out of everyone's way rather than worry about it?
More people should do that.
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