I would like to buy the Anker alarm clock - the Soundcore Wakey. But it is priced just a bit higher than I’m willing to pay, and the black one is unavailable most of the time. The white one was available for $75 a couple weeks ago, after applying an Amazon coupon, which was tempting, but still more than I wanted to spend. Plus, I’m still in the beginning of the year budget-stretched-thin period. I’m totally ready for my tax refund to arrive, even though it is almost all already allocated.
A lady from church/Scouts mentioned trying to get started writing. I don’t remember how the subject came up, but she told us her story of starting to write a book, getting about 40 pages written and feeling pretty good about the project. Then she came across an article that said new writers should throw away their first 40 pages (because it was always crap) and start over. Seemed like pretty lame advice to me, but it apparently hit her like a gut punch and brought down her spirits. I got the impression that this happened some while ago, like maybe a couple years. She said the “advice” was so discouraging that she never revisited the project, though she has thought about it.
So my question for the writer-types - is there a source you can recommend, that I can pass on to her, for positive advice that might help her to be motiviated to resurrect her project?
I was going to put this in one of the literacy threads, but didn’t know if that would be too limiting.
I would see if she can find a local writing group, or maybe even start one. Bouncing ideas off of other people is great for improving your writing.
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Today’s good mood is brought to you by coffee.
Ask your doctor if coffee is right for you.
I want a motorcycle.
Spouse doesn’t approve of the idea, and there isn’t room in the garage to park it, but if either of those were to change, I’d be seriously looking. Sadly, neither is likely anytime soon.
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Some students really think I’m stupid. “I’m up to exercise 7!” when the rest of the class is working on 4.
Me: I don’t see any of your transcripts on your virtual machine.
Him: Let me find them.
Me: Send me the path
Him: Sent you the path
Me: You just created those. They weren’t there yesterday and they all have today’s date on them.
I haven’t looked at the actual transcript files, but I expect they’re bullpucky.
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Keep your head on a swivel if you do get a bike since you are not as visible as a car. Start small since those bikes generally are easier to handle at first. Take lessons, even if you have prior experience. Having the ability to not panic in a life or death situation is a huge plus. Don’t show this post to your wife. 
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Thanks, good advice, though I’d like to get a 500 or 650. I’m not as small as I used to be.
I got a dirt bike when I was 10 and rode it on the the trails in the unimproved areas behind the neighborhood. A few years later they cleared where the streets were going to be, and we used to run laps through there like it was a race track. Eventually they poured the roads and built houses.
After high school I used to ride a buddy’s bike sometimes, and rode my sister’s a couple times, but that’s been years ago.
If I do get a bike, I will take the basic safety course, to avoid the hassle of a road test to get the M endorsement on my license and for the insurance discount. Dunno if I should try to get the wife to take the course with me. I don’t think she ever learned how to ride a bicycle, and I’m fairly certain she does not know how to drive a manual transmission, so jumping on a moto would be a lot to ask. Ok, I’ve just talked myself out of inviting her. Thankfully, she’s more of a Facebook person, so she’s unlikely to happen across my posts.
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There’s also a couple of youtube biker channels, you can also watch these and make notes for things to watch out for.
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It’s nice finishing a class that I volunteered to teach and have a student ask for my card so they can tell the college what a good job I did.
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Why did DVD case manufacturers think that adding two tabs you have to flip open was necessary to keep the case closed? You’re more likely to wear out the point the tabs bend at than the internal points where the case snaps shut.
I broached the subject with the wife at dinner on Friday. Yes, V-day Friday. She was never a fan of motorcycles (OMG, too dangerous), but her opinion dropped even further after her nephew (in his 20s) got hit while riding last year (in Latin America) and was badly injured.
She only made a few comments over the weekend.
Tell your wife that you’re now thinking about taking up wingsuit flying.
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No, sorry. That isn’t flying. That is controlled falling.
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Of course it is. But wingsuit flying is what they call it.
I feel like the latches on DVD cases are a weird mix of companies using them for ‘premium’ releases (collector’s editions and such) and some dirt cheap DVDs in the cheapest cases trying to look fancier than they are.
As to the motorcycle talk: While I don’t think it’s a good solution for me it is a definite option for certain commutes and such. I know a woman who uses her motorcycle as her primary choice for a short commute to/from mass transit to get to work and she deals with the need to haul extra clothes and doing light grocery shopping and such along the way.
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So if a telemarketer calls me…
- and does not answer or respond when I say “hello?” (I’m not jolly well gonna say who’s speaking, they can jolly well state who’s calling and the reason for their call)
- or I immediately gets an earful of muzak
then I’ll just put the phone down, I’m not in the mood to waste time by playing “hello” “hello” games or listen to some awful music before getting put through to the marketer.
AKA Zero fucks given.
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Depending on the day and how I’m feeling, I’ll start counting from 1 to 10. If they come on the line and hear me counting, it interrupts their flow because they don’t know how to deal with it. If they’re a professional call centre and actually attempting to reach me for a valid reason, it’ll work itself out.
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GAAAAAHHHHH! I hate pseudo science. Colloidal silver is not a valid treatment! Holistic medicine is garbage!
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On a similar note, if you cold call me I’m probably not going to buy what you’re selling but if you call me sir three times before I can even figure out what the hell you want I’m definitely not buying it.