Svenson

1999-12-18     Saturday

MIM-ccclii

Getting warmer, 5°C and drier over here. But, while the sun was visible the weather cannot be called bright. There is just enough cloud, high up and a bit hazy to pull all the warmth out of the sun, the result is what we call a "water zonnetje" (= watery sun).

I did my customary Saturday shopping. And came home loaded down with some bottles of wine, an arm full of clothes (tshirts and socks), a pair of shoes, some cables, a mouse and a modem.

The modem finally arrived, I had only asked for an external V90 modem. What I got was a Diamond Supra Express with a few free trial internet CDs (AOL among them of course). The only outstanding feature I can see is the 'prepared for Shotgun technology' thing and because I only have one phone line that is no advantage for me. It should be a good modem so I'll se how it fares. That is when I recover enough desk space to get Aria up again. Aria runs Linux but the Diamond modem should be standard enough to get to talking terms with her.

The mouse I bought (not for you Salem, it isn't a real one) is a three button PS/2 beast. Most mice around here are either two button (with or without wheel) affairs with PS/2 or serial lead or cheap three button ones with a serial (9 pin) lead. I have been looking for a three button PS/2 mouse for the better part of a year now. Not that I need it urgently but in Linux that third button should be usable.

While picking up a small hand held dust bunny co.. sorry, vacuum cleaner I found a bunch of extension cords for computer. In one box there are two PS/2, one AT keyboard, 1 serial, 1 speaker and 1 VGA cable; all 1m80 long (6 feet?). The only question is the quality of the VGA cable, I had extension cables running to a switch box some years ago and the VGA cables introduced too much noise to get anything better than 640x480 trough. The ones I am currently using on my switch box are good enough for 1024x798 and probably more (but the box cannot handle more). I'll test them out on Yaku first and if they work I'll collect some more. I may need them on the attic.

And I got all my new years presents packed and wrapped. We don't celebrate Christmas with a tree and gifts. We do set up a small artificial tree and we have a special dinner. No songs, thank you. Our collective talent is not sufficient to make singing an endurable experience. On new years day we have a special dinner as well, again no big celebration and mostly no presents either. It is only the last few years that I started to give presents and even then it was just garbing the occasion to present the stuff. For example my father still uses the old (I think 1949?) desk lamp from his days at university. The reflector has been broken and cemented several times but recently the socket has become loose so the bulb must be fastened regularly. I bought a new halogen spot and just wrap it for the occasion.

Most of the afternoon was spent on resting. Extra explanation for Tom: that is what you last did some years ago, it is the act of doing ... nothing. Persistently for a few hours.

Reactions on my frame based current page proposal are pouring in. I mean I got another one, from Dan. The overwhelming majority is something like "you do it reasonably good but still, we don't like frames". I still like it so I keep at it for the time being. I haven't found out what the problem is with frames either.

Salem, one of Bo's cats is at it again. Adding paragraphs to his daynotes and adding hair to his keyboard. Maybe he should get one of these kids keyboards, with big colourful keys. They are typically kid (and kit) proof, fully sealed against spilled drinks and kooky crumbs and mildly shock proof.

Adios