More tidbits

At scork (school-work), I have been fighting with an Apple G5. That's the era of computer right before Apple switched over to using Intel chips. I liked my old Powerbook, with its PowerPC chip, but when it was stolen I replaced it with a used, first-generation MacBook Pro, effectively making the switch to the Intel chip. Anyway, the Apple G5 has not been playing nicely with what's supposed to be the correct version of R. Plus, transferring files back and forth between machines is irritating. Today, I unplugged the G5's enormous monitor and determined that the plug was the right sort for plugging into my MacBook as a dual monitor. Score! The giant monitor now features a photo of Bondi Beach in Australia.

I ate two (small) coffee-laced brownies last night. I tried to go to sleep around 10:30, and was wide awake by 11:30. High winds whistling through the trees didn't help. On the plus side, I got to talk to scrottie for a lovely hour.

I have been engaging in intense discussion/whining about internet service providers on Facebook. It appears that most ISPs design their webpages so they can't tell you no. If they can't sell you the internet access you want, rather than saying, "sorry," they say, "perhaps you'd be interested in some other deals?" Why can't they just tell me no? I spent a few minutes seriously considering Verizon (for cheapness), but if you've paid any attention whatsoever to what's happening with net neutrality, well. Verizon exists solely to make life better for Verizon, customers and freedom of information be damned. I will most likely try out Suddenlink for a while, until they irritate me.

I have been researching options for growing/keeping plants indoors, here. When the temperatures get all the way down to freezing, I'll bring in the basil, eggplants, tomatoes, and Meyer lemon for a while. Plus, I'd like to start a bunch of seeds indoors in January. I'm not sure about what kind of light source to go with, but of course I want to optimize for cheapness (cheap to buy, cheap to power). I'd been thinking I'd set up operations in the garage, but I had a brainstorm this morning. The front bedroom gets a ton of natural lighting. So, I think it will become my office and plant room. I'll have to figure out a system to keep Emma out (close the door while not in the room?), but I'm really excited about the idea of having workspace with plants in it. Maybe I'll even add a few more houseplants. I'll need to come up with a system to protect the carpeting as well. I'm still unhappy about living by myself, but I also still don't feel like trying to find a roommate, and the extra room is kind of nice.

I finished reading this book called Somebodies and Nobodies, about the "abuse of rank." I cannot recommend it. It could have benefited from an extremely heavy-handed editor, and would have worked better as a short essay instead of a book. Maybe then the relevant points would stand out. I'm glad to be finished with it. I am now reading a book called Enigma, about cryptography in the UK during WWII - historical fiction. It is fantastic on multiple levels. First, it's got math. Then, because of the war, most of the characters ride around on bicycles. It's also good to read about the austerity people experienced during the war - a reminder that things in my life could be much, much worse (though my clothes and shoes are getting a touch threadbare these days). gfrancie recommended it - she's a champ at recommending books. Up next, I'll read a recent Sherman Alexie book sent along by my mother (thanks, Mom!), and a couple of books sent by scrottie. I am immensely enjoying this feeling of ripping through lots of fiction. I was getting worried about becoming illiterate for a while, there.