Sunday, November 21, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
They Voted With Their Pee
Warning: Crazy Cat Lady material follows.
Linus has never cared about the kind of litter in his litterbox. He's been litter trained since the 3rd day that he's lived with me, and he's never peed outside the box under normal circumstances. (We had a couple of incidents where a door blew shut during the day trapping him in a room and he had no choice.) I have even seen him pee in an empty litter box sitting on the bathroom floor while I was changing out the litter.
Tikal, on the other hand, it very picky. If it's not to his liking, he will pee in random boxes around the house until the litter box situation is to his complete satisfaction. To this date, Tikal has been satisfied with Anderson's Clump and Flush, otherwise sold as the PC Green brand litter. I like it as well; it's made from corn and it's flushable and it's a pretty good odour absorber.
This past weekend I bought a bag of World's Best Cat Litter and set it up in a second box in the bathroom. The Anderson's has gone untouched since. I don't care for the smell of the World's Best Cat Litter but, but everyone else in the house (cat or human) thinks it's the bees' knees. And I do have to admit that it clumps a bit better than the Anderson's and is slightly less dusty, so there is a bit less tracking all over.
So World's Best it is. It's hideously expensive, but hopefully it will last pretty well so that I don't have to change it very often. The bag claims some ridiculously high number for how long it lasts. I'm hoping for two weeks.
Linus has never cared about the kind of litter in his litterbox. He's been litter trained since the 3rd day that he's lived with me, and he's never peed outside the box under normal circumstances. (We had a couple of incidents where a door blew shut during the day trapping him in a room and he had no choice.) I have even seen him pee in an empty litter box sitting on the bathroom floor while I was changing out the litter.
Tikal, on the other hand, it very picky. If it's not to his liking, he will pee in random boxes around the house until the litter box situation is to his complete satisfaction. To this date, Tikal has been satisfied with Anderson's Clump and Flush, otherwise sold as the PC Green brand litter. I like it as well; it's made from corn and it's flushable and it's a pretty good odour absorber.
This past weekend I bought a bag of World's Best Cat Litter and set it up in a second box in the bathroom. The Anderson's has gone untouched since. I don't care for the smell of the World's Best Cat Litter but, but everyone else in the house (cat or human) thinks it's the bees' knees. And I do have to admit that it clumps a bit better than the Anderson's and is slightly less dusty, so there is a bit less tracking all over.
So World's Best it is. It's hideously expensive, but hopefully it will last pretty well so that I don't have to change it very often. The bag claims some ridiculously high number for how long it lasts. I'm hoping for two weeks.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Bruce's Dishwasher Rant
An entertaining rant composed by Bruce, reposted here to entertain, and also to make my blog look better. :-)
So I like to think that posts are about issues, ideas, philosophies, and well thought-out arguments on globally relevant themes.
So here goes: Our @$%$# dishwasher is based on dishonesty. I bought it from Sears in 2008, all bright-eyed and trusting in the efficient modalities of the economy and the free marketplace. I researched, haggled, kicked tires, and finally bought this shiny new modcon. I was mildly dismayed when I began getting repeated calls (about 20 a day, it seemed) from insistent ladies with hidden caller IDs telling me that it would fall apart soon unless I bought an extended warranty. Are you joking? The sales literature says it is device of the highest quality and most excellent design. What gives? This subsided after I lost my cool with the telemarketers and threatened to call THEM at home.
All good. But recently we noticed that the dishes were no longer as clean as before. To the point where it was no longer washing anything on the top tray at all. I consulted the instruction manual, read the troubleshooting guide, confirmed that the water was on, the power was on, I was a proud republican, and that I otherwise deserved to have clean dishes. No hint of what to do other than Call For Servicing. Sounds expensive. Should we scrap it? Are they just so poorly made that they wear out in three years? The service call would cost at least $ 100.00, way more if things needed to be changed, not to mention waiting around for someone to visit.
So while I was punching my way through the menus on the 800 number, and became annoyed that they wouldn't help me unless I had both the incomprehensibly long model number and serial number (the serial number would allow for about 10^68 dishwashers in the universe; wouldn't you really be better off just to buy a new one, the subtext went...) I googled "Fix Kenmore DW". I found that I was not the only person with this issue. I found a website with a detailed explanation of how to clean the filters, complete with pics! Filters? WTF! Why doesn't the instruction manual talk about these? In any case, about an hour later, after having disassembled the inside of the tub, using unusual tools like a "Torx T-25 socket driver", I was able to remove several filters, junk traps, and a device with the mildly disturbing name of "the macerator" and reassemble everything to find that it worked PERFECTLY.
Talk about planned obsolescence. Let me understand this.. It has a one year warranty. It has filters and serviceable parts that are buried and inaccessible (unless you have a Torx T-25....) that are likely not to need cleaning until, say..., a year has passed... an instruction and installation manual that makes no mention of these things. You are apparently fine if you agree to the blackmail that is the service contract, but otherwise, hey, just scrap it and lay out another $ 900.00 for a new one. It's actually not broken at all, but you will feel so special if you buy something new, and undoubtedly better. Or not.
I am reminded of the movie Brazil.
Grrrr.
So I like to think that posts are about issues, ideas, philosophies, and well thought-out arguments on globally relevant themes.
So here goes: Our @$%$# dishwasher is based on dishonesty. I bought it from Sears in 2008, all bright-eyed and trusting in the efficient modalities of the economy and the free marketplace. I researched, haggled, kicked tires, and finally bought this shiny new modcon. I was mildly dismayed when I began getting repeated calls (about 20 a day, it seemed) from insistent ladies with hidden caller IDs telling me that it would fall apart soon unless I bought an extended warranty. Are you joking? The sales literature says it is device of the highest quality and most excellent design. What gives? This subsided after I lost my cool with the telemarketers and threatened to call THEM at home.
All good. But recently we noticed that the dishes were no longer as clean as before. To the point where it was no longer washing anything on the top tray at all. I consulted the instruction manual, read the troubleshooting guide, confirmed that the water was on, the power was on, I was a proud republican, and that I otherwise deserved to have clean dishes. No hint of what to do other than Call For Servicing. Sounds expensive. Should we scrap it? Are they just so poorly made that they wear out in three years? The service call would cost at least $ 100.00, way more if things needed to be changed, not to mention waiting around for someone to visit.
So while I was punching my way through the menus on the 800 number, and became annoyed that they wouldn't help me unless I had both the incomprehensibly long model number and serial number (the serial number would allow for about 10^68 dishwashers in the universe; wouldn't you really be better off just to buy a new one, the subtext went...) I googled "Fix Kenmore DW". I found that I was not the only person with this issue. I found a website with a detailed explanation of how to clean the filters, complete with pics! Filters? WTF! Why doesn't the instruction manual talk about these? In any case, about an hour later, after having disassembled the inside of the tub, using unusual tools like a "Torx T-25 socket driver", I was able to remove several filters, junk traps, and a device with the mildly disturbing name of "the macerator" and reassemble everything to find that it worked PERFECTLY.
Talk about planned obsolescence. Let me understand this.. It has a one year warranty. It has filters and serviceable parts that are buried and inaccessible (unless you have a Torx T-25....) that are likely not to need cleaning until, say..., a year has passed... an instruction and installation manual that makes no mention of these things. You are apparently fine if you agree to the blackmail that is the service contract, but otherwise, hey, just scrap it and lay out another $ 900.00 for a new one. It's actually not broken at all, but you will feel so special if you buy something new, and undoubtedly better. Or not.
I am reminded of the movie Brazil.
Grrrr.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Good cues for a neutral spine
I attended the Halifax Can-Fit-Pro conference on Saturday, and in one of the talks I picked up a nice cue for helping participants find a neutral spine and engage the pelvic floor muscles.
"Imagine your hip bone as a bowl of water. Now don't spill the water either out the front of the back of the bowl."
At this point it's easy to demo what "spilling water" looks like by tilting the hips forward and back.
Once the hips are in place, "lift up the pool liner" at the bottom of the bowl.
If people are wondering how to tell that their "bowl" is upright, I can cue them to find the triangle formed by the two hip bones and the pubic bone and then make sure that the triangle is completely vertical.
After all that, I think most people will be able to find their nice strong neutral spine point.
Next I cue them pull the shoulder blades down and chest open, and Bob's your uncle. I sometimes tell them to pretend there's a star on their chest (point to near top of breast bone) and then make sure I can see their star even as they hip-hinge over for bent-over rows or hamstring stretches or squats. "Show me your stars everyone!"
Oh and one more nice exercise modification I learned about: for a squat, get them to extend their arms forward, thumbs up, and put a dowel (or empty bar) across the biceps. Raise the arms a bit higher than parallel with the floor, and now squat without losing the bar.
Conferences are great!
"Imagine your hip bone as a bowl of water. Now don't spill the water either out the front of the back of the bowl."
At this point it's easy to demo what "spilling water" looks like by tilting the hips forward and back.
Once the hips are in place, "lift up the pool liner" at the bottom of the bowl.
If people are wondering how to tell that their "bowl" is upright, I can cue them to find the triangle formed by the two hip bones and the pubic bone and then make sure that the triangle is completely vertical.
After all that, I think most people will be able to find their nice strong neutral spine point.
Next I cue them pull the shoulder blades down and chest open, and Bob's your uncle. I sometimes tell them to pretend there's a star on their chest (point to near top of breast bone) and then make sure I can see their star even as they hip-hinge over for bent-over rows or hamstring stretches or squats. "Show me your stars everyone!"
Oh and one more nice exercise modification I learned about: for a squat, get them to extend their arms forward, thumbs up, and put a dowel (or empty bar) across the biceps. Raise the arms a bit higher than parallel with the floor, and now squat without losing the bar.
Conferences are great!
Thursday, June 03, 2010
I like Pilates
So far, I'm really enjoying my Pilates class. It's a lot more challenging than I thought it would be, and I'm getting all the benefits I thought I would, plus some I didn't expect.
I took the class because I need some help with running a good safe Body Trim class, and Pilates is all about proper posture and lots of cueing. That is certainly happening; I am a lot more comfortable telling my participants to stabilize their shoulders, hips, etc, as we work through the exercises.
The second benefit I was looking for and got was a good core workout. I feel stronger every week. I sit a little straighter at work now, and I can sit on the edge of a crappy chair and maintain a nice straight back for several hours.
The unexpected benefits has been the discovery of some weak spots, like my neck and my left hip. The left hip makes sense since that's where my ankle problems are. Hopefully I can correct that. The big challenge has been my neck. I have never been able to do sit-ups without supporting my head, and in Pilates we do a lot of crunches or various sort. The instructor has been really helpful, spending time with me, trying to teach my how to hold my head up so that it's not hurting my neck. (Tuck in the chin but don't move the head forward.) (I know, it sounds easy.) I can do it while lying down or standing up, but as soon as I'm in a crunch position, I lose the alignment and neck start to hurt again. But I think I'm making progress. We have another five weeks to go; perhaps by the end I'll be able to hold up head up comfortably. I'm really hoping that the neck strength will also help with the neck/upper back soreness that I get from sitting at computers all day.
And one more benefit: I'm actually finding the class fun! Today we had only three participants, and we ended up laughing a lot when some of us just couldn't do some exercises. It's interesting to see how different people find different exercises easy and others impossible. I can't "roll like a ball" at all. I get stuck on my back like an upside-down turtle.
I'm going to try to take the same class in September if I can. (It will depend on my work/school/Dalplex schedule.)
I took the class because I need some help with running a good safe Body Trim class, and Pilates is all about proper posture and lots of cueing. That is certainly happening; I am a lot more comfortable telling my participants to stabilize their shoulders, hips, etc, as we work through the exercises.
The second benefit I was looking for and got was a good core workout. I feel stronger every week. I sit a little straighter at work now, and I can sit on the edge of a crappy chair and maintain a nice straight back for several hours.
The unexpected benefits has been the discovery of some weak spots, like my neck and my left hip. The left hip makes sense since that's where my ankle problems are. Hopefully I can correct that. The big challenge has been my neck. I have never been able to do sit-ups without supporting my head, and in Pilates we do a lot of crunches or various sort. The instructor has been really helpful, spending time with me, trying to teach my how to hold my head up so that it's not hurting my neck. (Tuck in the chin but don't move the head forward.) (I know, it sounds easy.) I can do it while lying down or standing up, but as soon as I'm in a crunch position, I lose the alignment and neck start to hurt again. But I think I'm making progress. We have another five weeks to go; perhaps by the end I'll be able to hold up head up comfortably. I'm really hoping that the neck strength will also help with the neck/upper back soreness that I get from sitting at computers all day.
And one more benefit: I'm actually finding the class fun! Today we had only three participants, and we ended up laughing a lot when some of us just couldn't do some exercises. It's interesting to see how different people find different exercises easy and others impossible. I can't "roll like a ball" at all. I get stuck on my back like an upside-down turtle.
I'm going to try to take the same class in September if I can. (It will depend on my work/school/Dalplex schedule.)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Morning run - harder than I thought
6:10am Alarm
6:50am I get up
7:15am I'm outside, thinking I'll water my garden plot first
8:00am I finish chatting with fellow gardener and get running.
8:45am Back home, shower, breakfast, etc.
I'm going to have to speed the process up a little. :-)
6:50am I get up
7:15am I'm outside, thinking I'll water my garden plot first
8:00am I finish chatting with fellow gardener and get running.
8:45am Back home, shower, breakfast, etc.
I'm going to have to speed the process up a little. :-)
Monday, May 24, 2010
Learning to Sew
The pattern: http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8643-products-10785.php
The result:
Because what I really need is another hobby. :-D
The result:
 |
| From Blog |
Because what I really need is another hobby. :-D
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
I Won a Kindle!
Really! I answered a survey, and put down my email address for a chance to win either a Kindle, Sony E-Reader, or Netbook. I picked Kindle.
It's a pretty cool toy, I have to say.
The best feature is the screen. It's really contrasty, and very easy to read, even in full sunlight. (I took it outside to test this.) It really is like almost like reading on paper.
I also like the way the Globe and Mail gets delivered, wirelessly, every morning.
The worst feature is the amount of control that Amazon keeps. They even keep track of which parts of which book you highlight and publish the aggregate data somewhere.
I don't think it can replace a real book though, at least for my generation. While the actual reading is fine, I miss holding the book in my hands and knowing how far through I am just by the number of pages read. It's not the same as seeing "31%" at the bottom of the screen. But I can see how some of the younger kids who grew up with these things could get used to these e-readers very quickly. If nothing else, e-books will make moving day much easier. :-)
It's a pretty cool toy, I have to say.
The best feature is the screen. It's really contrasty, and very easy to read, even in full sunlight. (I took it outside to test this.) It really is like almost like reading on paper.
I also like the way the Globe and Mail gets delivered, wirelessly, every morning.
The worst feature is the amount of control that Amazon keeps. They even keep track of which parts of which book you highlight and publish the aggregate data somewhere.
I don't think it can replace a real book though, at least for my generation. While the actual reading is fine, I miss holding the book in my hands and knowing how far through I am just by the number of pages read. It's not the same as seeing "31%" at the bottom of the screen. But I can see how some of the younger kids who grew up with these things could get used to these e-readers very quickly. If nothing else, e-books will make moving day much easier. :-)
Monday, May 03, 2010
New World Symphony
I went to tonight to see the Nova Scotia Symphony perform (among other things) Symphony #9, From the New World. It was wonderful! I'm too tired now to go on, but I'll try to write it up tomorrow.
(next day)
Meh, I just don't have the words. It was really nice. I don't think I'd ever really been to a performance of that size before. (I've always been to chamber music type events, or choral performances.) The guest soloist (Giora Schmidt) was really something. The New World Symphony went quite well, and I thought that the strings got it together very nicely during the whole piece.
It's hard not to walk out of such an event and not be pondering the meaning of life, beauty, feelings, and all that. It's neat how music can make us feel.
D.
(next day)
Meh, I just don't have the words. It was really nice. I don't think I'd ever really been to a performance of that size before. (I've always been to chamber music type events, or choral performances.) The guest soloist (Giora Schmidt) was really something. The New World Symphony went quite well, and I thought that the strings got it together very nicely during the whole piece.
It's hard not to walk out of such an event and not be pondering the meaning of life, beauty, feelings, and all that. It's neat how music can make us feel.
D.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Spring in the Garden
The garlic I planted last fall has come up. Another gardener gave me a Shasta Daisy, which I planted right in middle of my 10'x10' plot. Someone else gave me some oregano which I put in the corner of my plot. Then I seeded some peas along one side, some kohlrabi in a circle around the daisies, and today I sprinkled arugula seeds all over.
At home I have started, in a seeding tray, two types of squash, three types of tomatoes, and some cabbage. (And more arugula.) (I love arugula.)
Last year my plot was much too bare, so this year I hope to make it very crowded and fun and full of good stuff.
At home I have started, in a seeding tray, two types of squash, three types of tomatoes, and some cabbage. (And more arugula.) (I love arugula.)
Last year my plot was much too bare, so this year I hope to make it very crowded and fun and full of good stuff.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Amusing CLEI Code
First check definition of CLEI Code here: http://www.powersourceonline.com/magazine/2010/04/what-is-a-clei-code
My brand new stack of Cisco 2960s has the following CLEI code:
CLEI Code Number : COMFY00BRA
:-D
My brand new stack of Cisco 2960s has the following CLEI code:
CLEI Code Number : COMFY00BRA
:-D
Fitness Update
For the months of May and June, I will be teaching:
Beginner Step on Monday nights
Step Cardio Interval Wednesdays 9:30
Body Trim Thursday nights
Step Cardio Interval (or some other cardio) Friday 4:30
I'm also taking a basic pilates course Thursdays at lunch.
Should be fun! I hope my ankle holds out. It's been really cranky lately.
Beginner Step on Monday nights
Step Cardio Interval Wednesdays 9:30
Body Trim Thursday nights
Step Cardio Interval (or some other cardio) Friday 4:30
I'm also taking a basic pilates course Thursdays at lunch.
Should be fun! I hope my ankle holds out. It's been really cranky lately.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
healthy option to tortilla chips
Start with some kind of healthy tortillas, such as these Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortillas. Cut them into quarters and toast them in the toaster. (They're fairly grainy and stiff, so they stand up in the toaster pretty well.) Serve up with some hummus which you've whipped up while the chips were toasting. Add a cut-up pepper and carrot, and voila!
P.S. I was put off by the name too, but they're actually quite good and tasty. Sadly they're from California. I hope I can find a more local source of such good sprouted grain tortillas.
P.S. I was put off by the name too, but they're actually quite good and tasty. Sadly they're from California. I hope I can find a more local source of such good sprouted grain tortillas.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Summer Reading List
(Books marked with a * were already started and then abandoned in the name of school work)
Arcadian Adventures With the Idle Rich by Stephen Leacock
Tipping Point my Malcom Gladwell
All Marketers are Liars by Seth Godin (*)
The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
Full Leadership Development by Bruce Avolio (maybe)
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (*)
The Long Descent by J.M. Greer (*)
The Good Marriage by J. Wallerstein & S. Blakeslee
Literary Lapses by Stephen Leacock (*)
Design for the Real World by Victor Papanek (*)
something by Hemingway
some of Mark Twain's short stories (on Slartibartfast's recommendation)
The case for servant leadership by Kent M. Keith.
Think Twice: Harnessing the Power of Counterintuition by Michael J. Mauboussin
Other then reading, I intend to cook, garden, sew, and exercise.
Now I just have to get the last few weeks of school over with. :-)
Arcadian Adventures With the Idle Rich by Stephen Leacock
Tipping Point my Malcom Gladwell
All Marketers are Liars by Seth Godin (*)
The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
Full Leadership Development by Bruce Avolio (maybe)
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (*)
The Long Descent by J.M. Greer (*)
The Good Marriage by J. Wallerstein & S. Blakeslee
Literary Lapses by Stephen Leacock (*)
Design for the Real World by Victor Papanek (*)
something by Hemingway
some of Mark Twain's short stories (on Slartibartfast's recommendation)
The case for servant leadership by Kent M. Keith.
Think Twice: Harnessing the Power of Counterintuition by Michael J. Mauboussin
Other then reading, I intend to cook, garden, sew, and exercise.
Now I just have to get the last few weeks of school over with. :-)
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