tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117260872024-02-08T16:03:38.645+10:00The View from the EyrieTravels, technical writing, open standards, science fiction...Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-82216191901002459432010-11-07T16:59:00.006+10:002010-11-07T19:50:55.592+10:00Port of Airlie marina construction updateLatest pictures from marina construction site at Airlie Beach, October 2010.
<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZES_pqJWe6ceCuEmYkFNzTqyGEycGnnKukM76OAX11T-qU_Gnkmnob4f0jtEugMrQgzfpATOX1mWsdAAWTl0fos_J1o9AiB2f6K0SHxYJK7AAH77-RaJTFrCHwX9Ifk8u97d/s1600/ab_201010-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZES_pqJWe6ceCuEmYkFNzTqyGEycGnnKukM76OAX11T-qU_Gnkmnob4f0jtEugMrQgzfpATOX1mWsdAAWTl0fos_J1o9AiB2f6K0SHxYJK7AAH77-RaJTFrCHwX9Ifk8u97d/s400/ab_201010-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536704338584866322" /></a>Above: Widened road with roundabout at main road to Shute Harbour.
<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsbvNgMFtTac8f7K0Qkuqf_sc7cZjmz1X9ZFZxwhE2dJHtiOyLhI_TBMDD8h9L1HQmdPBCkGgjlqaliBplWP8GO9ZFkDH0agKmhEgNMpG0OPuBpe01pBXCCMkHVDndJ0bWSJo/s1600/ab_201010-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsbvNgMFtTac8f7K0Qkuqf_sc7cZjmz1X9ZFZxwhE2dJHtiOyLhI_TBMDD8h9L1HQmdPBCkGgjlqaliBplWP8GO9ZFkDH0agKmhEgNMpG0OPuBpe01pBXCCMkHVDndJ0bWSJo/s400/ab_201010-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536704898746212882" /></a>Above: Apartment complex with marina pilings and walkways just visible behind it. Marina area is now partially open to sea, so boats can enter.
<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQmIDEqlsdmPx94v0bCpU1ShBpbEMHQW73U0KFeQS0ZOcv55VN_03SrplssxL7LfwlLuVzb_w0LQDIxEtTIceUkBXgXWWtCsDfkc6qi_aj1OYPITUymw4SfDh1yaLnRGqO6TM/s1600/ab_201010-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQmIDEqlsdmPx94v0bCpU1ShBpbEMHQW73U0KFeQS0ZOcv55VN_03SrplssxL7LfwlLuVzb_w0LQDIxEtTIceUkBXgXWWtCsDfkc6qi_aj1OYPITUymw4SfDh1yaLnRGqO6TM/s400/ab_201010-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536705335500157154" /></a>Above: View more to east, showing marina area and apartment complexes.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-39885915558895306272010-03-02T20:51:00.003+10:002010-03-02T20:54:54.519+10:00Technical Editing in the 21st Century<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCW3shNNd3hgMygwCr5_vYmhy_XAoIzEjU66YwzK3sT8Qr9KFZJfY3D_YZhVQ0j6wcD9kb3o-SZe4J9sK_Pijv55_K8XOSsXJS07ZZW4WjBwdie6h7ZiTPj1TOEZMbLZcP13x/s1600-h/cover_large.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCW3shNNd3hgMygwCr5_vYmhy_XAoIzEjU66YwzK3sT8Qr9KFZJfY3D_YZhVQ0j6wcD9kb3o-SZe4J9sK_Pijv55_K8XOSsXJS07ZZW4WjBwdie6h7ZiTPj1TOEZMbLZcP13x/s200/cover_large.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443987756294391810" /></a>Just published by Prentice Hall, <em>Technical Editing in the 21st Century</em> is the title of a new textbook I co-authored with Nicole Amare and Barry Nowlin. ISBN 978-0131196773. Available from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131196774/ref=nosim/weberwomanswreve">Amazon.com</a> or <a href="http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131196774/ref=nosim/avalookataustral">Amazon.co.uk</a> (where the title and the description still include obsolete subtitles) and other sources.</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-64752599871224699582010-02-09T13:09:00.003+10:002010-03-02T20:54:15.715+10:00OpenLuna - back to the moon!<p>This is one of the most exciting open source projects I've heard about.</p>
<p>From their website: "The <a href="http://www.openluna.org/index.php">OpenLuna Foundation</a> seeks to return mankind to the lunar surface, first through robotic missions, followed by manned exploration, culminating in an eight person permanent outpost, and to do all of this in a way that it is accessible to everyone. Our research and technology will be open-source, we are privately funded, and one of our specific goals is to reach out to the community and educational systems to spread interest, enthusiasm, and involvement."</p>
<p>Yes, I joined, you bet. Makes me nostalgic for my NASA days, though of course that was government funding and got cut back. I'm an enthusiast for non-government projects and have been for many years.</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-83967049928373551082010-01-27T16:35:00.002+10:002010-01-27T16:41:57.224+10:00Rain<p>Some pictures of the water left by today's hour or two of heavy rain: back of house, side of house, drainage ditch (normally empty). Three men in suits inspected the flooding near us; they now have very wet shoes. Must be city folks; locals would go barefoot, as I did. We hope the suits now believe residents' claims of drainage problems. And this wasn't really bad rain: heavy but not many hours, so far. No water into houses but some unoccupied places are very close to getting flooded. We're still okay.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9qeFmnVDAfn18X-kaik5Z7_eZM6fXLCEyEUAIjeq_iebtDOU1hHOngfRp8uXNmg9XJK3fBi_znOOwcSs81q8c8uKPZBIWaNN1pdlFL6ZwLij1buWGQepgXWVubZM3hZS5Fvv/s1600-h/100_0993a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9qeFmnVDAfn18X-kaik5Z7_eZM6fXLCEyEUAIjeq_iebtDOU1hHOngfRp8uXNmg9XJK3fBi_znOOwcSs81q8c8uKPZBIWaNN1pdlFL6ZwLij1buWGQepgXWVubZM3hZS5Fvv/s400/100_0993a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431304997105312850" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cxUS6KLFS_WnaTb9WMkllKgQTf9qB5bLtdJs2ZoPaHx_S1dIgTt_8PxftFK3CvKLpLizkrwJ478XqoSMw5SPUkZj3BPtOwDeFe4FbADfGwEReuv8ndYAHc0J0rQld4NRILuw/s1600-h/100_0977a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cxUS6KLFS_WnaTb9WMkllKgQTf9qB5bLtdJs2ZoPaHx_S1dIgTt_8PxftFK3CvKLpLizkrwJ478XqoSMw5SPUkZj3BPtOwDeFe4FbADfGwEReuv8ndYAHc0J0rQld4NRILuw/s400/100_0977a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431305009256275570" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_6_A-IScybncHOuBJg6AxedQvrKeYv5x5rBu9VZYFoEQjklqaTypzp-IEJ23UfrrEX5MpK8wQgERM0c2KYCOxNz0F4bVa9MNkpY0I3rU7M5le2v6YIWb9fX4Q90hBcenxhyphenhyphenF/s1600-h/100_0998a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_6_A-IScybncHOuBJg6AxedQvrKeYv5x5rBu9VZYFoEQjklqaTypzp-IEJ23UfrrEX5MpK8wQgERM0c2KYCOxNz0F4bVa9MNkpY0I3rU7M5le2v6YIWb9fX4Q90hBcenxhyphenhyphenF/s400/100_0998a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431305022030095570" /></a>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-71113103184386968102010-01-23T19:18:00.005+10:002010-01-24T19:48:39.223+10:00New awnings for house<p>On Monday two men from Townsville Blinds & Awnings installed new curved metal awnings on the front and the eastern side of our house. Already we have noticed an improvement in blocking of both sun and rain. This is the same company that installed our other blinds, awnings, and interior coverings for some windows and the patio door. We've been very happy with their products, their work, and their friendly, on-time service.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rNMXquwf7wLFntB2fOjTNQVs9ncgy0v1bh5cwTBqV8cQ-5yFgRTkAHZF9I4xm_hpzz2zMqBTwRI-Mja6NXiG_8j7p8lGsxvgDczvMltmsUfrUQs7Mq64doCp3ntG3nQVPRoH/s1600-h/img_1376b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rNMXquwf7wLFntB2fOjTNQVs9ncgy0v1bh5cwTBqV8cQ-5yFgRTkAHZF9I4xm_hpzz2zMqBTwRI-Mja6NXiG_8j7p8lGsxvgDczvMltmsUfrUQs7Mq64doCp3ntG3nQVPRoH/s400/img_1376b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430233936855290850" /></a>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-14596960330498411542010-01-22T19:42:00.002+10:002010-01-24T19:49:12.100+10:00Whistling ducks?<p>Eric took this photo early one morning (6-6:30 am) with his Kodak Z740 digital camera on full 10x zoom. These are just a few of the birds in the flock wading in the drainage ditch near our house.</p>
<p>After consulting the bird identification book, we've concluded the closest match is the Crested Whistling Duck, although these don't show the very small crest and are a bit darker than the one shown in the book (which could be at least partly due to the low light conditions).</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJLFEFfzvD2BcXGMD9GTJCKUJohp4fM8QdtipHzspE7OvsHkajUq6SPO0GESMuiKcudIaGbXn7feeSYHYCT4L1uBnZv3fpkXdEylaMMiszdN9Td6Ofv2Cpn_soLUQFPAUvm5a/s1600-h/100_0947a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJLFEFfzvD2BcXGMD9GTJCKUJohp4fM8QdtipHzspE7OvsHkajUq6SPO0GESMuiKcudIaGbXn7feeSYHYCT4L1uBnZv3fpkXdEylaMMiszdN9Td6Ofv2Cpn_soLUQFPAUvm5a/s400/100_0947a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430239745344124370" /></a>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-69573715733358231482010-01-18T22:20:00.002+10:002010-01-24T22:24:39.542+10:00Rescuing data from a drive<p>Thanks to goodies from Eric's gadget box, I was able to rescue some files off a 500GB drive with a broken connector. (The drive was otherwise in good condition, as was the data on it.)</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6L1Nj04pDe5pJ7MhD-1aZeCxKYEG5JhDg77V2XoSd5pF1Q_SXdIpF-BuSmrNsAHOTm2UYxm5rKURjsIhqx9HpNlxZsAgK5l188tGV-7Lz4FZ7y7mdnsGdzFf_3ULWPQXkUP_I/s1600-h/img_1370a.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6L1Nj04pDe5pJ7MhD-1aZeCxKYEG5JhDg77V2XoSd5pF1Q_SXdIpF-BuSmrNsAHOTm2UYxm5rKURjsIhqx9HpNlxZsAgK5l188tGV-7Lz4FZ7y7mdnsGdzFf_3ULWPQXkUP_I/s320/img_1370a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430280889203429794" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9FczU1_2QATsfLdv6Dje6_GI_FedrP0AjLVf8RmrpTeDv2GrzFCLAulmajnFqo-4YLDsroixrWUxUOhKVv1G3w8MHao-1o5kV5R_d3uUTTqYtb3eL1mnF7GBOQKOaLCylHSz/s1600-h/img_1371a.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9FczU1_2QATsfLdv6Dje6_GI_FedrP0AjLVf8RmrpTeDv2GrzFCLAulmajnFqo-4YLDsroixrWUxUOhKVv1G3w8MHao-1o5kV5R_d3uUTTqYtb3eL1mnF7GBOQKOaLCylHSz/s320/img_1371a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430280898646544370" /></a>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-79556819264699341352010-01-05T19:32:00.004+10:002010-01-24T22:33:52.946+10:00Six wallabies and a cat<p>This photo was taken by Eric around 6AM on his walk around Carlyle Gardens. He saw lots of other wallabies, but this cluster (featuring a cat as well) was particularly striking. The quality of the photo isn't great, because it was taken with an iPhone (which doesn't handle low light levels nearly as well as our other cameras) and I had to lighten it quite a bit in GIMP to make the wallabies even slightly visible.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl1Akbj9f03QdNM7OHo2UZ9tStEErhCzowk6znpA5XVGMIUcF6VSQ50f7LfsEO6CfupbjU1bjxxJq2kUr859FhTTE5dVfJYMqfyLv5irnRTZBFO1rKlMMbkR0lEvyJ2rP2W16/s1600-h/IMG_0191d.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl1Akbj9f03QdNM7OHo2UZ9tStEErhCzowk6znpA5XVGMIUcF6VSQ50f7LfsEO6CfupbjU1bjxxJq2kUr859FhTTE5dVfJYMqfyLv5irnRTZBFO1rKlMMbkR0lEvyJ2rP2W16/s400/IMG_0191d.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430237244067316354" /></a>
<p>And then there was the little wallaby who wanted to read the newspaper, but was having difficulty getting the plastic wrap off...</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C_5oQ_BajRl-FUrw9gGPYeibLpGfZ88n2egVmnClweaETgeoTw3JUmLwDWojiR3gGwPhFqzXgP1v6liHlo3lh8ArvQgvd3N9QxWupSGuXjE68YMpUlRZu8EtqfqCw3IAmTTX/s1600-h/img_0207a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C_5oQ_BajRl-FUrw9gGPYeibLpGfZ88n2egVmnClweaETgeoTw3JUmLwDWojiR3gGwPhFqzXgP1v6liHlo3lh8ArvQgvd3N9QxWupSGuXjE68YMpUlRZu8EtqfqCw3IAmTTX/s400/img_0207a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430283434887720914" /></a>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-91455387219280960612009-12-18T20:28:00.007+10:002009-12-18T20:34:51.541+10:00Garden edging closer to reality<p>On Wednesday the handyman came by to lay the bricks for the garden edge. What an improvement in the appearance! The garden itself still needs a lot of work, but we're getting there... slowly.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGNVQwZldf2QHk3Yn2q-CEUCZKNDW9Cq6fMVv6EbhM_DGX4Csq1IGG9ROSuRXJbXwjS31QwReA6rfeIjaNGXdXQfDYSyXz3B5KU3FQDGDxu7hT9nsB2OUdVdRVNTpcw2lJHgi/s1600-h/img_1366a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGNVQwZldf2QHk3Yn2q-CEUCZKNDW9Cq6fMVv6EbhM_DGX4Csq1IGG9ROSuRXJbXwjS31QwReA6rfeIjaNGXdXQfDYSyXz3B5KU3FQDGDxu7hT9nsB2OUdVdRVNTpcw2lJHgi/s400/img_1366a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416521843863944610" /></a>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-9647639940630209632009-10-21T19:54:00.002+10:002009-10-22T19:56:08.077+10:00Ubuntu on new laptopInstalled Ubuntu 9.04 on my new laptop. Vista promptly stopped working. Repair didn't work. Advanced repair did. Back in business, dual boot. Downloading updates to Ubuntu.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-77786370308294753682009-10-19T11:26:00.002+10:002009-10-19T11:29:24.912+10:00New book: Self-publishing with OpenOffice.org 3 Writer<img src="http://www.taming-openoffice-org.com/newsite/wp-content/uploads/self-pub_front_thumb_lg.jpg" alt="Self-publishing with OpenOffice.org 3 Writer" title="Self-publishing with OpenOffice.org 3 Writer" width="150" height="228" align="right" hspace="10" /><p>My new book <em>Self-publishing with OpenOffice.org 3 Writer</em> is now available in paperback from <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/7801648">Lulu.com</a>. Downloadable PDF is coming soon.</p><p>The online draft version of the book <a href="http://www.taming-openoffice-org.com/newsite/?page_id=1073">starts here</a>. I will update the online version when I have time.</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-36395277017608454292009-10-07T13:10:00.004+10:002009-10-22T20:17:34.667+10:00<p>My new laptop computer just arrived! It's a mid-range Dell Studio XPS 13 with great specs.</p><p>Oh, cool! My spare mouse has red lights that match the red case of the new laptop.</p><p>I must say Vista looks very nice, with its swoopy blue/green background. Had a quick look at Word 2007; didn't take too long to find where most of the bits I use (on the rare occasions that I use Word) are hidden.</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-43169614004082759912009-09-23T18:23:00.002+10:002009-10-22T21:24:13.212+10:00Dust storm<p>Dust from big storms in NSW and southern Qld was very noticeable as we took our 5PM walk, but it's not nearly as bad as we've seen in photos from southern areas.</p><p><a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=40274">Here's a satellite photo.</a></p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-11036833865993488202009-09-22T21:20:00.000+10:002009-10-22T19:58:29.775+10:00New laptop on orderGave in to the urge to buy a new laptop. Dell XPS 13 in Merlot Red case is on order. (Purple is not available for that model in Australia, alas.)Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-45122047861345255822009-08-29T20:25:00.000+10:002009-12-19T20:26:13.291+10:00Pisco sourFinally tried making a pisco sour from the pisco I brought back from Peru, using the recipe that came with the bottle. Very nice! I suspect the ones in the hotels were a bit weaker, though. Now to do more testing, with recipes from other sources (but not tonight). I used a type of lemon that's kind of halfway between a lemon and a lime. Real limes are too expensive right now.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-73539424239771144722009-08-29T20:03:00.000+10:002009-10-22T20:04:03.236+10:00Sound for the WiiWe have the technology! Eric found an old radio/iPod player and an adapter cable in his "I might want this someday" box, so I now have sound with the Wii. I just tested it with the 10-pin bowling game, and yes it's much better with the sound. I like the THUNKs of the pins being hit with the ball. ;-)Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-68116870541984561942009-08-28T20:01:00.002+10:002009-10-22T20:02:47.563+10:00Gadgets! Wii FitBought a Wii console and Wii Fit today (Father's Day bundle on sale at Big W, under my price point for impulse purchases), and set it up with my monitor (I have no TV). There's no sound, but I hate sound, so I'm in no hurry to connect some speakers even though I'm sure it would be better with sound.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-87794326788430798712009-08-27T20:22:00.000+10:002009-12-19T20:24:28.695+10:00No end of writingRevised second draft of 4 more chapters of my book on self-publishing with OpenOffice.org and sent them off to my editor, who is going to get a surprise when he checks his mail in the morning. Getting there... slowly.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-27781382090367190582009-08-26T20:21:00.000+10:002009-12-19T20:22:19.317+10:00Screen door locks - at last!Today the builders finally installed locks with keys on the screen doors, replacing the original locks which had no keys that ever got into our hands. Another item checked off the defect list as done. Still a few to go.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-20640554393506937542009-08-25T20:00:00.001+10:002009-12-19T15:02:09.627+10:00Writing, walking, sewing - a balanced life<p>Alternating between rewriting my book and editing Lyn's has its strange moments. If the sheep become examples in the computer book, that's why...</p><p>This afternoon I managed a slightly longer walk than usual. At one point an older woman overtook us. Eric said, "Walk faster, Jean!" and the other woman said, "Ignore him." :-) I'm going for distance, not speed.</p><p>You know it's time to quit when, while sewing a long straight seam in the side of a garment, you sew the armhole closed as well.</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-14887025822086653922009-08-24T14:56:00.000+10:002009-12-19T14:57:30.818+10:00Life's tedious momentsLodged my income tax return online. It wasn't very complicated once I got started, but I'm glad to get it over with.
Now hanging on the phone waiting to get my internet banking password reset so I can pick up my credit card statements.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-6112631776341901322009-08-23T19:53:00.001+10:002009-12-19T14:58:30.689+10:00Publishing and life<p>Internet connection out for awhile this morning. Amazing how much thinking & writing gets done without the distraction of, uh, research.</p><p>Back to the self-publishing book. Finished revising another difficult chapter, in between writing a short article for an editors' group, formatting Lyn's book, painting bookshelves, and (yesterday evening) moving sprinklers and hoses to water the vast expanse of lawn and garden beds near us that the management's watering system isn't doing. (We've reported the latter problem, so some day it may get fixed.)</p><p>First cut at front cover design for Lyn McConchie's Rural Daze, using artwork by Judith Giddens, who also did the interior illos.</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-36242730533098535352009-08-22T17:52:00.000+10:002009-12-19T14:53:15.356+10:00PublishingTaking a break from writing my own book to edit and format Lyn McConchie's next book of farming tales, Rural Daze and (K)nights.Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-44398422797858458482009-08-19T14:49:00.003+10:002009-12-19T14:59:16.677+10:00Wii research & book revision<p>Today we asked a salesperson in one store about connecting a Wii to a computer monitor, not a TV. She gave completely wrong info (claiming audio inputs weren't necessary), and was most emphatic about it. Eventually conceded she knew nothing about games consoles, only computers. Later, in Harvey Norman, we inspected the Wii gadgetry section and found the necessary cables. Not that we've decided to buy a Wii; just curious.</p><p>Later, did first-pass revision of Chapter 3 of my self-publishing with OOo book. More slash-and-burn. Can't believe I'd included so many irrelevant topics.</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11726087.post-33841218163194517552009-08-18T14:46:00.002+10:002009-12-19T14:59:47.952+10:00Gas barbecue & wine bargains<p>Eric and I bought a small Weber gas barbecue this morning. It's part of our collection of supplies for cyclone season, in case of electricity outages (the regular stove is electric, as is—of course—the microwave). We could not consider any other brand than Weber. ;-) </p><p>One of the bottles of cleanskin Western Australian wine we bought last week tasted very much like a nice Evans & Tate we used to get occasionally, so we went back to the grog shop to get a dozen. While there, we checked the bottles labelled Evans & Tate and found a remarkable similarity in the colour of the screw cap and the name of the wine ("Classic").</p>Jean Hollis Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11979067315994630324noreply@blogger.com