Archive for the ‘hobby’ Category

Xubuntu 10.04 LTS: Initial Install and Impressions

Saturday, April 21st, 2012


Old PCs die a terrible death, lonely and forlorn. In the Windows world you need to upgrade your physical PC hardware every 3-4 years as well as buy the newest operating system, wasting money and stressing your budget. As an IT professional I not only do not buy into this propaganda, but rail against it. When the Windows operating systems on old PCs do not receive any upgrades, the PC slows down, often heavily laden with fat, bloated software. Ubuntu, a Linux OS version, and Xubuntu, it’s lighter version, may be the answer to unlocking the innate functionality of your old PC.

Darren and Nick in Unicycle Basketball Game, Toronto, Canada

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012


Some things stay the same, and that is just fine with me. When they stay the same and I see them in the news, I am ecstatic. Keep rolling, guys and keep your balance. Hey Nick, how is Zach? Learn to ride with the Toronto Unicyclists.

Nick (left) and Darren Bedford (right) and the Toronto Unicyclists play unicycle basketball at St. Josaphat Catholic School, Toronto, Canada

Nick (left) and Darren Bedford (right) and the Toronto Unicyclists play unicycle basketball at St. Josaphat Catholic School, Toronto, Canada

Darren Bedford (left) and the Toronto Unicyclists play unicycle basketball at St. Josaphat Catholic School, Toronto, Canada. A Bedford Unicycle with a fat knobby rests in front.

Darren Bedford (left) and the Toronto Unicyclists play unicycle basketball at St. Josaphat Catholic School, Toronto, Canada. A Bedford Unicycle with a fat knobby rests in front.

Cookie Recipe for those with a Milk Allergy

Thursday, March 8th, 2012


Shule Cookie Press: Mostly aluminum, 20 dies and well constructed. Cookie dough consistency is key to success.

My big Weed has a milk allergy from little, so our family almost never cooks with milk products. We have become very adapt at modifying recipies to exclude milk. As we recently purchased a Shule Biscuit cookie press, we found a lovely recipe, which we had to substitute “no milk proteins” margarine for butter. Little did we know that not all margarines are the same.

Psychology of Magic

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012


Blurring the line between the real and unreal, magic does this without any sociological or physical penalty. When the lines blur between the real and unreal, people get committed to hospitals and take a regimen of drugs. People jump off bridges in an attempt to fly, only to meet their death. Lose control of this ability to judge and you are in big trouble. While losing this ability is rare and terrifying, magic does this on a daily basis, all in a safe environment. Magicians trick human nature all the time, and have been doing so since humans walked the earth. How much more interesting can this get?

Deja Vu-like, the Morning Commute has not Improved

Sunday, January 1st, 2012


Going back to the commute routine has been eye opening, which caught me by surprise. It’s not like this is new to me, but getting used to the TTC and the quickness of pace has been eye opening.

The TTC seems to have stayed the same. I expected advancements, but this is not so. They struggle to keep from falling backward on themselves. While most bus drivers are courteous, I have met those who are not. Once there was a detour because of a crime and police had closed the road. This driver did not even announce why he was detouring, so many people asked. He got so mad.

Clo-vents Chronological: I learn so much

Sunday, January 1st, 2012


Regret is how I feel about not posting these earlier. Still, life goes on and so I go. All these events have been memorable, and at each one I learn more as I continue on my way, either through technique, talking to people, or myself. Overall, it is 3 x win.

C-vents:

Spontaneous Display of Clown: Britain

Friday, December 2nd, 2011


Clown police and two businesspeople in the UK. What is their message and why do they dress as clowns?

What is their message and why did they choose to dress as clowns? Kids would easily identify them as clowns.

My WordPress Blog hijacked: The Pharma Hack

Thursday, December 1st, 2011


Rest assured, I have not started a pharmacy and am not promoting illegal drugs on my personal blog. Oh no, as I am a “No Drugs” type of person. I was the victim of the Pharma Hack. This virus changes your indexing on Google Search so when people search for your site instead of your blog entry title they get ads for pharmaceutical drugs. I was not happy about this. After many extensive changes in beefing up WordPress security, so far Google search has started to index me correctly. This might take a couple of months, so bear with me.

Imperial Sewing Machine Model 535 User Manual

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011


Imperial sewing machine model 535, as illustrated in the user manual. May also be branded as New Home 535 or Janome 535.[/caption]

Since I became the custodian of my Imperial 535 sewing machine I have been looking for a user manual. Many people have written in looking for the same. As luck would have it, Gord Bestwick of British Columbia, Canada happened upon my blog page and has kindly cleaned up and offered me an electronic version of his user manual, for free non-commercial distribution. This means no one need pay for this manual and all Imperial, New Home and Janome 535 owners can enjoy it. This manual is applicable to many Japanese sewing machines of similar era. Between us, the world is a better sewing place.

Automotive Journalist on Motorcycle Hurt by Left Turning Car

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011


How to avoid getting killed by a car, especially a left turning car at a signalized intersection, is a frequent topic of discussion on motorcycle forums and blogs. For a long time smart motorcyclists have been looking for the cause and solution to this deadly dilemma, in the hopes of reducing or eliminating the threat. First-hand documented accounts of crashes are dissected with a forensic zeal. Possible causes and contributing factors are suggested. Motorcyclists always leave the discussion with an uneasiness and queasiness in the gut: Often the cause of the crash, a car driver, is beyond the rider’s control. In this case an automotive writer riding his motorcycle gets into a head-on crash with a left-turning young lady, who says the typical cop-out excuse: “I did not see him”.