A woman died yesterday after interfering with federal ICE officers. I won’t post a link because you have already decided whether or not you are in favor a civil war in America.
Category: Uncategorized (Page 1 of 5)
When the power went out a couple of days ago, my electricity was back in a few hours, but my home automation didn’t come back.
The First Electric Christmas Tree Lights
from the Detroit Post and Tribune (1882)
Johnson’s glowing Christmas tree was visible through his home’s windows, and caused a stream of people to pass by his house, intrigued by this new use of electricity.
[It was described in an article by William Augustus Croffut, a Michigan newspaper reporter.]
“Last evening I walked over beyond Fifth Avenue and called at the residence of Edward H. Johnson, vice-president of Edison’s electric company. There, at the rear of the beautiful parlors, was a large Christmas tree, presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect. It was brilliantly lighted with many colored globes about as large as an English walnut and was turning some six times a minute on a little pine box. There were eighty lights in all encased in these dainty glass eggs, and about equally divided between white, red and blue. As the tree turned, the colors alternated, all the lamps going out and being relit at every revolution. The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors, red, white and blue, all evening.
I need not tell you that the scintillating evergreen was a pretty sight – one can hardly imagine anything prettier. The ceiling was crossed obliquely with two wires on which hung 28 more of the tiny lights; and all the lights and the fantastic tree itself with its starry fruit were kept going by the slight electric current brought from the main office on a filmy wire. The tree was kept revolving by a little hidden crank below the floor which was turned by electricity. It was a superb exhibition.”
Winter can be bleak and dreary, especially when the snow is old and the sky is overcast. Nature is shades of gray. That can bring a fella down.
It doesn’t bring me down, I’ve got a beagle, but as part of my Continuous Improvement Plan, I added automatic color.
Choosing a retirement gift is tricky because you may not know the person very well. Not just what does the person want or need, but what are they going to want or need after reaching a milestone that changes everything.
I’m going to help you.
Ars Technica: Why is my dog like this? Current DNA tests won’t explain it to you.
Another disappointing article about dog research.
The dog shown in the photo above is a stock photo chosen for this article. To me, the photo says,
“Hi, my name is Patches! They found me at a pet sematary. This paw is bigger than my other paws, and my ears don’t seem to be related. I look to be patched together from a bunch of dogs, so they call me Patches! Can I take your kids for a walk over to the edge of the forest? You don’t have to come along.”
This is incredible. Jensen went from being the poorest person I’ve ever heard of, to the richest man I’d never heard of.
NY Post: First images from inside fire-ravaged Hong Kong high rise as death toll rises to 146
A big fire at an apartment building in Hong Kong won’t get much coverage in the US, but it seemed strange to me because everything is built of concrete in Hong Kong. Apparently it was the scaffolding.
Ten years ago, I took this photo of construction at the Hong Kong university where we worked. Bamboo poles are lashed together. On top of the scaffold, a blue tarp is spread for workers to walk around on. They step on the bamboo poles to not fall through the cracks.
Yesterday, it was 40o and a little misty. The wind was heading to the east, so it was a good time to blow the leaves into the woods. Glad I did.
I was attempting to be too productive this morning, when his bowl slipped out of my hand. For breakfast, he gets a third of a cup of kibble and half of a hard boiled egg. Nothing very sticky.
Sparky’s poise and judgment surprised me again.