What’s on your mind?

[D.T.]

I haven't seen a bookstore that crowded like I did today in many many years. Probably because it's January, but wow.

It's funny you mentioned this, we took the little G to the book store just the other day (Barnes and Nobles) and it was packed! I mean, it was a madhouse, a line 20 people deep at the in-store Starbucks, they had a big sale on Manga (Japanese comics), like BTGOF, so she really scored

 

[Apple fanboy]

That makes sense.

Besides, as she is the person who will spend most time with whatever light system you choose, her preferences re light really matter.

In the kitchen? Definitely!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

In the kitchen? Definitely!

However, I would recommend task light, or spot lights, or something over the worktop areas; in winter, you really need good quality light over the areas where you are actually working in the kitchen.

 

[Apple fanboy]

However, I would recommend task light, or spot lights, or something over the worktop areas; in winter, you really need good quality light over the areas where you are actually working in the kitchen.

These are the ceiling spot lights. In addition there will be under the cupboard lights and a feature light over the island.
Also the extractor will have a light.
Plenty of options.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

These are the ceiling spot lights. In addition there will be under the cupboard lights and a feature light over the island.
Also the extractor will have a light.
Plenty of options.

Cupboard lights are an excellent idea, while the extractor lights (which I, personally find absolutely invaluable) and a feature light over the island sound not just an excellent idea but something of a necessity.

Ceiling spot lights strike me as an excellent way of dealing with general lighting issues in a kitchen.

 

[S.B.G]

Harvey the wonder hamster.

 

[Jessica Lares]

It's funny you mentioned this, we took the little G to the book store just the other day (Barnes and Nobles) and it was packed! I mean, it was a madhouse, a line 20 people deep at the in-store Starbucks, they had a big sale on Manga (Japanese comics), like BTGOF, so she really scored

Ohhh, now I see. I did see quite a bit of people in that area. There were people in other aisles aswell and so I suspected a sale of some sort. The only thing I saw was the buy one get 50% off classics and then the general 50% sale.

In-store Starbucks was pretty dead as usual, but there's an actual Starbucks around the corner where everyone is at.

 

[S.B.G]

I just finished spending a couple of hours combing over my music collection and fixing some tag issues on the FLAC files.

Some of my collection I ripped with one program which added the album art to the tags of the files. But then I really didn't like that program and found one I like a lot better, but doesn't add the extra tag information to the files. I kind of forgot about that lacking feature and have been ripping my music without it.

Then today I found a comprehensive, yet easy to use to ID tag program which allows me to change the tags on files and add album art to them.

So that's what I've been doing this afternoon. Adding album art tags and fixing some other sorting issues tags as well.

Now I just have to remember to use this program right after I rip my CD's so that my library stays the way I like it.

 

[D.T.]

Now I just have to remember to use this program right after I rip my CD's so that my library stays the way I like it.

I've been using MusicBrainz Picard for years, multiple OS distros plus a source option for real DIY-ers.

MusicBrainz Picard

Official website for MusicBrainz Picard, a cross-platform music tagger written in Python.

picard.musicbrainz.org

 

[S.B.G]

I've been using MusicBrainz Picard for years, multiple OS distros plus a source option for real DIY-ers.

MusicBrainz Picard

Official website for MusicBrainz Picard, a cross-platform music tagger written in Python.

picard.musicbrainz.org

I've been using Asunder to rip CD's and today I found Kid3 tag editor.

 

[D.T.]

I've been using Asunder to rip CD's and today I found Kid3 tag editor.

I'll have to take a look at Kid3, though Picard is excellent - plus how many apps have an "OK" button labeled like this:

I actually RIP CDs using my player, the TEAC has a ripper function and it writes them to a USB stick (then use MediaHuman Audio Converter).

 

[S.B.G]

I'll have to take a look at Kid3, though Picard is excellent - plus how many apps have an "OK" button labeled like this:

View attachment 888226




I actually RIP CDs using my player, the TEAC has a ripper function and it writes them to a USB stick (then use MediaHuman Audio Converter).

I cannot argue with the name Picard, and the "Make it so!" button. Genius!

 

[D.T.]

I cannot argue with the name Picard, and the "Make it so!" button. Genius!

Hahaha, I know, I sometimes open the ABOUT dialog just for the chuckle

Holy smokes, this Texas / KC game got exciting!

Plus, coding (having a blast with this migration project), great bevs, famous burgers on deck~

 

[LizKat]

I haven't seen a bookstore that crowded like I did today in many many years. Probably because it's January, but wow.

That's great to hear, really. Whoever said reading is dead a few years ago (and got some pundits to go along with that idea) must have fallen into a sinkhole before making the observation.

Not everyone is a winter sports fan, and speaking for myself, substituting cooking is... dangerous.

So while my favorite winter pastime is cutting fabric for quilting projects as that wonderful light of January and February begin to flood my studio, the other really big time grabber for me in winter is reading. For some reason I also make more time for poetry in winter, too. A time for contemplation I guess. God knows it's not the season to hang out by the back fence or by the roadside mailboxes chatting with near neighbors.

 

[D.T.]

God knows it's not the season to hang out by the back fence or by the roadside mailboxes chatting with near neighbors.

Our neighbors sort of avoid us.

I mean, we've only been out in the yard naked under a full moon a __few__ times, I'm not sure why they've got any issues with that ...

 

[S.B.G]

Our neighbors sort of avoid us.

I mean, we've only been out in the yard naked under a full moon a __few__ times, I'm not sure why they've got any issues with that ...

If you've seen one, you've seen them all.

 

[LizKat]

If you've seen one, you've seen them all.

Still, if they're out there...

White tail deer are pretty much all the same too, but I still stop and allow myself their entertainment value when I happen to be drawing the shades at dusk. That's usually when some of the little herd of deer up behind me on the ridge have begun their cautious parade through my east driveway. They cross the road and go down to the creek for water. I have no idea how they have learned to look both ways on that road before crossing but they all seem to do it!

 

[Gutwrench]

I’m exhausted and it’s only halftime. RIP those who took the under.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Still, if they're out there...

White tail deer are pretty much all the same too, but I still stop and allow myself their entertainment value when I happen to be drawing the shades at dusk. That's usually when some of the little herd of deer up behind me on the ridge have begun their cautious parade through my east driveway. They cross the road and go down to the creek for water. I have no idea how they have learned to look both ways on that road before crossing but they all seem to do it!

Animals can be amazing.

I remember around 20 years ago watching a dog, watching with absolute awe and undisguised admiration and fascination, how that dog (mature enough, judging by its appearance), trotted and threaded - how it carefully but confidently navigated - pausing when necessary, moving when possible, - its way through busy traffic on a road on a bridge that is over a century old, looking both ways as it carefully crossed the road, not causing a pile up, hold up, or startled or sudden stops, just "reading the road" accurately with complete concentration and calm precision, and then, when it had crossed successfully, trotted briskly away on the footpath, tail up, confident of itself and where it wanted to go.

And I thought the same thought: How did that animal, a distant descendant of wolves, - no human companion anywhere to be seen - learn to look both ways while successfully navigating - and reading - busy traffic and cross that busy road effortlessly?

 

[Apple fanboy]

Animals can be amazing.

I remember around 20 years ago watching a dog, watching with absolute awe and undisguised admiration and fascination, how that dog (mature enough, judging by its appearance), trotted and threaded - how it carefully but confidently navigated - pausing when necessary, moving when possible, - its way through busy traffic on a road on a bridge that is over a century old, looking both ways as it carefully crossed the road, not causing a pile up, hold up, or startled or sudden stops, just "reading the road" accurately with complete concentration and calm precision, and then, when it had crossed successfully, trotted briskly away on the footpath, tail up, confident of itself and where it wanted to go.

And I thought the same thought: How did that animal, a distant descendant of wolves, - no human companion anywhere to be seen - learn to look both ways while successfully navigating - and reading - busy traffic and cross that busy road effortlessly?

I’d have been more amazed if he looked just one way on a one way street! But yes (most) animals are pretty clever. Not the squirrel I hit the other day though. Just darted out into the road. Nothing I could do.
Mrs AFB wasn’t impressed!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I’d have been more amazed if he looked just one way on a one way street! But yes (most) animals are pretty clever. Not the squirrel I hit the other day though. Just darted out into the road. Nothing I could do.
Mrs AFB wasn’t impressed!

I've had relatives who told me how their cats or dogs could recognise the sound of their car as it was about to arrive home, and would react accordingly, and I know a cat who used to arrive at the office of the person it liked, punctually, a few minutes before 5.00 p.m. (17.00) every single day to accompany its human back to where the human in question stayed.

 

[Clix Pix]

My two cats, Harry and Tali, always were in the window and/or at the door to greet me when I arrived home from somewhere...... They clearly recognized the sound of my car's engine, even though there were many other cars arriving or departing, parked in the same parking lot.

Aw, that poor little squirrel....... Well, better a squirrel than a deer, which can cause serious accidents when suddenly leaping out in front of an unwary driver!

 

[Apple fanboy]

My two cats, Harry and Tali, always were in the window and/or at the door to greet me when I arrived home from somewhere...... They clearly recognized the sound of my car's engine, even though there were many other cars arriving or departing, parked in the same parking lot.

Aw, that poor little squirrel....... Well, better a squirrel than a deer, which can cause serious accidents when suddenly leaping out in front of an unwary driver!

Despite seeing many beware of deer signs, I’ve yet to see a deer anywhere near a road.
I like squirrels. Clever little creatures. Mrs AFB follows some women who looks after injured and abandoned ones. Always posting videos and pictures.

 

[Clix Pix]

Some people call them "tree rats," but I like squirrels and think they're cute. We have a lot of them around here and from time to time I've been able to capture them with a camera. They're fun to watch when they're scampering around.....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Despite seeing many beware of deer signs, I’ve yet to see a deer anywhere near a road.
I like squirrels. Clever little creatures. Mrs AFB follows some women who looks after injured and abandoned ones. Always posting videos and pictures.

Some people call them "tree rats," but I like squirrels and think they're cute. We have a lot of them around here and from time to time I've been able to capture them with a camera. They're fun to watch when they're scampering around.....

Squirrels are highly intelligent and curious and funny; friendly, sometimes, as well.

In The Observer (the Sunday edition of the Guardian) Séamus O'Reilly had a very funny piece at the very beginning of December of how his infant son had bonded with a squirrel, who had made a point of attracting his attention and communicating with him.