Amaryllis on Alcohol: Revisited …

In previous experiments I grew Red Lion amaryllis bulbs in 7:1 ratio of water to vodka 80˚ (40% alcohol by volume) and achieved a pretty stout, self-standing, amaryllis bulb growing indoors on liquid. The control on plain water grew tall, spiked well but — as is typical — the foliage fell over and needed support (see suggested reading links below).

My aim now is to see how much larger and taller I can sprout an amaryllis bulb on a dilution of alcohol before the foliage gets leggy and the leaves topple over: I want to determine the minimum dilution of alcohol to use for maximum results.

The original ratio of 7:1 vodka 80˚ (40% alcohol by volume) to water is 1/8th of 40% or just 5% alcohol. This year I’m trying (a) weaker dilutions of alcohol to put less stress on the growth — 4.1% and 3% respectively — and (b) I’m using less expensive and more easily obtained isopropyl alcohol rather than the ethanol or grain alcohol I used in all my previous experiments.

Is this Offensive?

I watched a rerun of an episode of The Big Bang Theory tonight, called The Vartabedian Conundrum. It originally aired on CBS on 8th December, 2008. I paused on the vanity card, a benefit of having TiVo, to read the joke — they’re often funny — excepting, this time, I wasn’t laughing. I thought it was offensive.

Vanity card #231 reads “I believe that inherent within the God-given right to the pursuit of happiness, is the equally God-given right to the pursuit of unhappiness. That is why I support gay marriage.”

Several of Chuck’s cards have been censored by CBS (e.g. #217), so it’s not as though the broadcaster isn’t paying attention.

How do you read card #231? Gay people deserve to be unhappy for wanting to get married? Why should only straight people suffer the misery of marriage? Something different? I’m not sure, but it doesn’t resonate well with me. Help me out here and comment on what you think it means and answer the question: Is this offensive?

Suggested reading: Chuck Lore’s vanity cards, by number | The Big Bang Theory TV Show | Variety’s article Vanity cards let Lorre sound off

iPhone’s Success Sucks the Life Out of AT&T’s Service in NYC

In spite of full 3G signal strength AT&T’s service in New York City doesn’t have the bandwidth to squeeze in another 160 characters. It’s bad and rapdily getting worse!

WordPress will now Publicize new blog posts as Twitter updates!

Enabled from your blog’s Dashboard>My Blogs under the “Publicize” column check on Twitter. Complete the authorisation process after you click on the “Enable” button. A yellow box appears below your Twitter check-off in which you request a link to Twitter. I was already signed onto my Twitter account so Twitter simply asked for my consent to link then switched me back to WordPress.

Now, when posting a new story, amongst the “Publish” control’s you get the “Publicize: Twitter” option already enabled to tweet an update of your post. “Edit” if you want to uncheck Twitter updates but more especially to add a custom message to your Tweet. WordPress will append a short URL to your update in the form of http://wp.me/s0m3th1ng.

This post will, in fact, be the first post that I tweet automatically via this new functionality!

Audio Volume on iPod/iPhone Movies set too Low?!

The audio levels on my iPhone movies are too low. My music is loud enough and can be increased beyond my comfort levels. Movie soundtracks are, however, too soft even when the volume control is maxed out. Why the disparity in sound levels? Not sure. I’m time-shifting movies from DVDs using Handbrake, perhaps this app is to blame?

Here’s how to work around it …

In your iTunes Movies library, before you synch up your iPod or iPhone …

Select all movies
File>Get Info
Select the Options tab
Slide the Volume Adjustment up from None to 100%
Click “Ok”

If asked, acknowledge that you’re changing multiple files through this action!

Of course you can and probably should change the settings on individuals movie files as you add them to iTunes.

Synch up! Your movies should be loud enough, although still not equal to the maximum volume you can crank your music up to!

Transforming dots, click the link and mouse over the dots …

My nephew Mark restores a family heirloom jug …

This slide show illustrates how my nephew Mark had a family heirloom jug professionally restored.

Adventures in Geocaching: Livingston County House, Geneseo, New York

Headstones with age and initials only: What’s the story behind this interesting find?

There are several aspects of geocaching I most enjoy: In rough order of preference they are the exposure to locations I would not otherwise have visited, the history that goes with it, the occasional opportunity for urban exploration, the follow up research it inspires — and the technology which drives it. Of course many geocaches don’t meet all the criteria, but we look for those that do.

Forty Years Ago: The Moody Blues, the Moon Landing & Woodstock

The Moody Blues played Radio City Music Hall tonight. Even though it was the day of a good friend’s funeral I went. It was an introspective time and, I felt, appropriate music.

A Good Man Gone: Joe Treanor passed away this morning …

After a three year long battle with cancer Joe died peacefully at 5am this morning. He died with dignity, his wife Candi at his side, supported by his extensive family and network of friends.

Joe, centre, with brothers Kevin on the left and Michael on the right.

Take note of a special date and time in History!

On Wednesday the 8th of July at precisely 12:34:56 all the numbers will be lined up in ascending order — a rare happening! So enjoy the moment on 12:34:56 7/8/9!

Gisela Everitt: Farewell to a dear friend who left us today!

Just a few months ago we took our Spring Break with the Everitts — a wonderful holiday with old friends. Gisela bravely battled cancer for about three years and although it took a heavy toll on her body, it seemed not to dampen her spirits nor warp her outlook on life. She was so very special to us, so refreshingly genuine, uncomplicated, eternally cheerful, chatty with everyone — even strangers — and generous to a fault. Pictured here, after a buffet Chinese lunch she treated us all to, Gisela shed her mortal coil today at 4am. Yes, that’s me behind the camera, as usual, not in the photo. Gisela’s sister Hannali suffered a similar fate recently.

Guide yourself through Central Park

The Central Park Conservancy have provided a uniquely hip/geek way to tour Central Park: You can dial the numbers, 646-862-0997, and punch in the numbers corresponding to a park feature (see appended list) from anywhere. The numbers are also posted in the park.

Fabulous Treehouse Restaurant in New Zealand

“This unusual restaurant started life as an ad campaign for Yellow, a New Zealand company similar to the Yellow Pages. The idea was to build a restaurant in a tree using only resources listed in the company’s directories. Ad campaign aside, the result is breathtaking: a graceful pod that glows about 30 feet above the ground.” by Lucy Gauntlett

From the Offbeat Traveler: Yellow Treehouse restaurant in New Zealand at latimes.com

Some people just don’t get usability: Which button would you press?

Whether you intended added or deleted attendees to be notified, which button would you press for either of the alternatives given?

Usability = Productivity!