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Entry tags:

computer woes

that's a nope

I decided to work from Skelleftehamn today, so that I will be able to return the new personal computer I had bought as soon as the shop opens (ok, as soon as I finish my meeting, which starts when the shop opens).

Why? In part because I didn't much like the propensity of Windows 11 to do things for me without asking consent first. In part because my home Wacom pen and tablet is too old to work with that type of processor (it literally wouldn't install the driver that works with that pen/tablet, as the "platform isn't supported"), but the straw that really made It easy to decide not to keep it was when I tried to copy over the documents folder from the old computer, and it wouldn't fit. Therefore, it wouldn't be possible to install any programs, either. Nope, just nope. I will take it back, and put off buying a new one till after we get back from Boar Hunt.

Perhaps I will keep it

Long day at work, as always on a Tuesday, with our weekly meeting not starting rill 15:00, which is my otherwise normal end time for the day.

I was too tired to work on the bus home, so I only worked 9.5 hours, instead of 11.

After work:

Copied from wat I posted today to FB:

I bought a computer last week. Wound up bringing home a touch screen, which is lovely when I have the computer in my lap. However, I just tried plugging it in to my nice large, and fairly new second monitor, and the Wacom tablet so I can interact with programs on the larger screen, and the tablet drivers refused to install, saying "platform not supported". Now I wonder if I should return the computer? I am NOT willing to learn to use a mouse after 30 years of using a pen and tablet to interact with a computer.

Is the problem that the computer is Windows? Does Linux support touch screen computers, and permit one to also use the Wacom pen and tablet?

An hour or three later, I added:

Edited to say, thanks David Granberg, you were able to help when Wacom's tech support couldn't. The problem turns out the wrong sort of processor to be able to use with a driver for a wacom pen tablet as old as the one I have been using for years. However, the wacom driver that does works with the processor on this computer drives the much newer wacom tablet from my work computer, so perhaps I will kerp the computer. The jury is still out as to weather I will keep Windows on it...

Entry tags:

crafts,
games

Saturday, smithy and games, Sunday crafts day

Saturday:

Woke early, thinking about my particiloured silk tunic in progress, whic I had set asside days ago because of an issue with it. I realised that there is really only one problem with the inside-out cut pieces, the angle of the cut of the waist seam. So if I take the pannel intended to be the back purple skirt and make it the front I can simply trim the waist down to the matching slope. Likewise, if i use the one that was cut to be a front purple as a back, I can just piece in a triangle to be the waist, and, if I use a wrap belt, that seam won't even show

We spent the day at the smithy, making stuff. Keldor took photos. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GVMFCXaLx/

Then Games night. Me, Keldor, Clara, Þórólfr, Gilbert, Odal, and Caspian.

Albion Protects Royalty. Clara won, which given that she only just met most of the group today, is pretty impressive.

Carcassonne, first game I tried claiming a field, and it got cut off from all cities, and I lost. I learned from this mistake. Second game I claimed a field that already had two completed cities, and I won.

We slept at Keldor’s dad's last night, arriving after he had gone to sleep, so we just went straight upstairs, showed Clara to her room, I did my yoga while Keldor found sheets for her bed and for ours. Then I slept more than eight hours, which doesn’t happen often.

When we got up Keldor helped his dad with computer stuff and window cleaning while Clara and I walked to the store to get breakfast, and then cut the sleves for her new tunic (we had cut the body and neck the other day).

Then it was time to head to Reengarda's craft afternoon, where I made progress on my silk tunic I cut out a couple of weeks ago, she sewed down the neck facing and started attaching the sleeves, and Keldor talked to people. Petronilla, Virya, Odal, and Jonas were all there today. A lovely time.

Then home, stopping on the way i Vallen to pick up the now cooled metal.

We baked a pound cake, beause pound cake. Played some Qwirkle, which Clara won, which pleased her mightily, given how much she had lost by the previous two games.

Then we looked at a youtube smithing video, and noticed that a message had come on from the Boar Hunt event team asking for folk to fill in a google form about our archery experience, so they know how to split us into groups at the event.

This triggered Keldor to check the bows he is bringing for he, Holmfrid and I, which made me think that it would be smart to have a bag to transport them in. So I tiok some of the fabric the couch was shipped in, and used Keldor’s sewing machine to sew it into a tube, and started to sew channels in it to make individual pockets for each bow. But then the machine started doing that thing with tons of extra thread on the underside. So I gave up and cleaned ot all away.

I went to do my yoga, and we noticed that there may be Northern Lights out, so we went for a look. Yes, very faint but there. Lots of stars, too. A beautiful night, with a very cold breeze.

Then I took time to type this, and now I really sgould do that yoga and get to sleep, it is getting late.

Entry tags:

civcs,
sca

Consider costumes for the No Kings on the 18th

Wear a costume on the 18th.
Re-enactors are well placed to dress like royalty for No Kings #2.

An Interview With the Portland Chicken

"There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing.
What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying Noem is up on the balcony staring over the "Antifa Army" and it’s eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit."

https://www.wweek.com/culture/2025/10/09/an-interview-with-the-portland-chicken/

Entry tags:

home improvement

And so it begins

Today's home improvement progress: everything from the left half of the attic to the right, save for some things left from the previous owner, which we took to the local dump/recycling station.

Keldor cut some of the lumber to go between the existing uprights that we will staple the vindpapp to before we add the insulation.

new computer

Today after work was a shopping day. Keldor's dad asked him to buy him a new computer, as the old one was giving warning notes from Microsoft about being too old to upgrade anymore. Keldor and I had the same problem, and we felt like it was time to throw money at it. They only use the computer to browse the web, watch stuff, and do zoom calls. So Keldor bought them both chrome books. I need a computer for a bit more than than that, so I knew that I would wind up spending a bit more than they did. Then I made the mistake of looking at the models with a touch screen. I had never used one before. Oops. Now I have a computer with a touch screen. I can even fold the monitor completely around and use it like a piece of paper to draw. Yes, I tested this, even before installing Obsidian, which I can't live without anymore.

However, it came with Windows 11, and I am not convinced I like it, and wonder if I should just have Þórólfr replace that with a better operating system before I copy over all of my files?

After we picked up the computers we went to the hardware store and bought some *vindpapp* (no idea what the English word might be), which will be used for step one in insulating one end of the attic to make us a new, upstairs, bedroom. Apparently we first will first put up some boards with 60 cm spacing (so that insulation will fit nicely later), then staple the *vindpapp* to enclose the potential room on one side of the beams between the central portion of the attic (which is tall enough to stand up in), and the lower side bits to the side. Once that is done we can go back and buy insulation, then cover that with more *vindpapp*, then we can add the walls.

Entry tags:

A long, but productive day

Today I managed to re-gather all of the documents needed to get access to the shire bank account as kassör (treasurer/exchequer). The same information we sent them in August which they never got. Now I just need to get signatures from all the other relavant shire members and we can try sending it in again.

Work was very productive, getting lots done, including finally finishing SEAD's Data Management Plan. It was also a long day, so I have enough hours ahead for the week I can work a short day on Friday.

Keldor took another training day today, wearing his chainmail to work all day, and then keeping it on for mushroom picking on the way home. Ironically, wearing armour didn't protect him from the small snake he never saw. At least we assume that the bruise on the end of his little finger (left hand), with two tiny prick marks in it are a snake bite. He didn't notice it till he got home. How do you not notice getting bitten by a snake?

The Empty Fortress

Haven't posted much. Some notes:

1. Tori passed away. I found out from a friend, who sent me a note while I was watching a show. Not a shock, but not much chance of closure. He was a big influence on me--chickens, motorcycle, handicap--he walked the path first.

2. Still missing Kristin.

3. Wendy is cancer free but crippled now. Difficult, complicated situation in her family. I am persona non grata.

4. Got a new room mate--Andrew--working out nicely so far.

5. Leg is finally improving. Finally got a referal to a cardiologist (I really need to be more pushy) who explained aspects of the Afib then told me that I didn't have to avoid caffiene, but I need to cut NaCl out of my diet. Then he perscribed diuretic medicine which dropped 20 pounds of water weight, fixed my hypertension, and dropped my pain level. In 3 days. Let's see what a week will do.

6. Birthday party for Mom went well. yay!

7 Van died on way to dance. No taking money meeting friends. On the hunt for a new (used) car that I find comfortable, can be maintained, and reliable!

More later.

Newspaper archives

I found out that my hometown newspaper has archives going back 200 years, and spent a lot of today searching out articles about my older relatives, which was entertaining. I discovered that my grandfather, who ended his life as a respected general manager of a very large paper mill, was a dastardly youth who had more than a few traffic tickets, such as passing a streetcar when it was unloading, for which he was fined $5 in 1933 (that's $125 in today's dollars.) Here's a pic of my grandmother.