fidlmath

Diana the Spider Wrangler

Whee! Brrrrrr!

From the S FL wimp - it's cold.  It was 48° at 6AM this morning, then 52°at 7, but is probably a bit warmer by now.   It actually feels great to me.
I had to call Lion Brand yarn last week, because I got to a point in the, apparently simple, sweater pattern I'm making for my daughter J and the numbers didn't add up.  Turned out they have a pattern consultant or whatever, who checked it out and discovered that I was right.  There are instructions for 4 sizes, it was correct on 2, but wrong on the other 2, and of course I was making one of those.  Anyhow, she had a fix, which I might have figured out if I had more self confidence, especially since it's been awhile since I tried using a knitting pattern.  The problem is that I haven't had a chance to get back at it because of so much grading [sob] and now I also have to finish some of that plus write 2 tests to be copied Monday.  Sorry to bitch - but it's mostly my own fault because of my procrastinating.
Too little sleep last night, but I'm invigorated by the cold weather and don't feel sleepy - go figure.  Tonight I want to do 2 things that are incompatible.  Go to a 7PM meeting about recalling some of the, at best incompetent, members of our new Association board, and watch Hubble Telescope [HST] pass over my location at just after 7.  Go late to meeting?  Why not.  If you're interested in seeing the HST or International Space Station [ISS] pass overhead, go to www.heavens-above.com, register, choose your location [coordinates if you know them, otherwise USA and, e.g. Orlando, Miami, Kendall, wherever] and then surf around the site - you can get the days and times and where [if you know how to read it - that's what NN is for, for me].  Try it - it's kind of cool.

posted by: mafidl at February 28, 2008 10:32 | link | comments (1) |
teaching, knitting, weather, space

cute pic

OK so this was sent to me by a friend, source not sure - but too cute to not put here.  Enjoy

posted by: mafidl at February 24, 2008 15:17 | link | comments |

electricity, Spam, etc.

posted by: mafidl at February 24, 2008 13:40 | link | comments (2) |
teaching, stuff, family, zoo , frustration

craigslist

I just posted something on craigslist for the first time.  My daughters have encouraged me to do this, but I didn't get my nerve up [and some necessary photos] until now.  Since I'm in Miami, I don't imagine too many of you would be interested, but just in case, here's the link.  We'll see if it works.
I bought a new camera [Panasonic Lumix DMCFZ8], but if it doesn't do better than my itty bitty one [formerly daughter J's] then I'll return it.  I want one with more zoom power and thought I'd like a digital SLR.  Went into a camera shop yesterday to check them out and discovered the cost of such was prohibitive - given that the prices were for the camera bodies only, then have to pay lots for lenses.  While down at the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades with cousin D the other day, I talked to a man who had a large, beautiful, camera and said that he had a lighter weight one that is a digital SLR that he might be willing to sell.  I think it is an Olympus D510? which he said he paid about $1000 for less than a year ago.  I didn't actually see it, but think I might like the Panasonic better.  Anyhow, I can't seem to balance my checkbook this time [grrrrrr] and also need to finish writing a test.  Tomorrow I'm day captain at the Zoo and hope to grade some test corrections and homeworks.  So, off to work, I go, HiHo.  TTFN

posted by: mafidl at February 23, 2008 13:26 | link | comments |
teaching, camera, zoo , frustration

Ghost active in Congress?

This law [part of FISA] has been in effect since about 1976, I believe.  Now Congress is going to/has/maybe not enacted this one, which will, apparently, protect communications companies involved in government wiretapping retroactively.  I heard this being discussed on our local version of NPR this morning.  For some reason it made me recall Joe McCarthy and the 1950's, who, to my surprise, had no involvement with the House Committee on Un-American activities.  That certainly does not jibe with my earliest memories of watching television. Amazon has this book, which either would or not shed more light on the matter.  At any rate here is another link with info on this.  It looks like I need to do some more reading.  I was sure that McCarthy and Roy Cohn were involved in the witch hunts, but according to the last link, it was the Army-McCarthy hearings that I am remembering.  A humorous note: my father didn't drink alcohol heavily often, but on occasion he did get a "snootful".  One evening he was at a party attended by politically minded friends and acquaintances.  Before the evening was over, Joe McCarthy and the witch hunt were discussed, at which time my father made a statement somewhat like this:  "I have never wished someone's demise before, but if ever there were one who should go, it's Joe McCarthy."  Strangely enough, the next morning the NYTimes announced that, indeed, McCarthy had died the previous night.  Small wonder that a number of people from that party called my dad that day and pleaded with him not to get angry at them - LOL!  Perhaps old Joe's ghost is wandering around the Halls of Congress trying to stir up mischief?
One other thing I heard about on NPR this morning was Integrated Tourniquets.  These seem a great idea because they can be activated in a matter of seconds, instead of what might be minutes and death.  I wonder if the cost will be too great - maybe more than the $600 for a screwdriver? LOL?

posted by: mafidl at February 21, 2008 10:26 | link | comments |
politics, humor

Visit et al

My cousin D left yesterday afternoon.  It was a lot of fun having him here.  We drove down to the Everglades' Royal Palm area where the Anhinga Trail is.  Lots of birds, including 2 adult purple gallinules and one immature one!  I rarely see them and they are so pretty. 
Then out to dinner at a Cuban restaurant [Versailles - sound French to you?] with some of my friends here - it seems that all the restaurant choices I and my friends have made lately have been almost too noisy to hear - true here, too. e However, the food was great. Monday we went to a local and national historical site that I've never ben to - Coral Castle.  This was built in the 1920's or so as a monument to a lost love [he was left at the altar].  It's made entirely of coral rock, no modern tools, mostly fashioned from used auto parts, and built entirely by the man himself.  Truly amazing and will be on my list to take visitors from now on.  Then D had decided he wanted to see the Zoo so we spent the rest of the day there.  Great weather, overcast and not too hot.  Then home where we drank New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc [not the one he knew, but very good] ate Hard Pretzels [not the Pennsylvania variety he wanted, but OK], more wine, crackers and cheese, more wine, a bowl of my chili and more wine!  Finished off pretty nearly a bottle of wine each.  Fun and no hangover. 

Of course when I went to an appointment after D left, the receptionist had suggestions of several other options that would have been pretty uniquely Miami - note to self: ask Sandy next time!  That is, if there is a next time.  His visit made me miss my girls even more and I'm wondering how much longer I'm going to want to stay here.  Guess I should find a good realtor and ask for a realistic estimate of 1.  if I can sell my townhouse, 2. how long it would take to do so and 3.  what might be a realistic price.  About 2 years ago I could probably have sold it for about 2-3 times what I paid for it.  This year I did have the approved hurricane shutters installed, although it didn't help my insurance, since my unit is one of 8 adjoined units, so the roofs are considered at risk.
So, Obama won Wisconsin and Hawai'i primaries/caususes.  I'm beginning to feel badly for Hillary.  I really don't dislike her and if she happened to win the Dem nomination I would definitely vote for her.  It seems that she has been victim of, perhaps, overconfidence and inadequate campaign planning.
Oh, and the nickname for Republicans who've supported Obama?  Is it Obamacans or Obamakins. LOL
OK enuf  TTFN

posted by: mafidl at February 20, 2008 09:11 | link | comments (4) |
politics, family, moving, condos

A Thought and Question

[Oh, my head LOL.] I keep hearing an ad for CSX [train company] to the effect that they can move freight over 400 miles on 1 gallon of gas.  If this is the whole story, haven't we made a terrible mistake in discontinuing what was once a marvelous network of train travel - freight and passenger?  I took a train ride last Spring out west - the Amtrak train was late [about 3 hours] arriving and then coming back, much the same.  The reason was having to coordinate, apparently not very well, with freight trains, which take precedence.  Now this sounds like a contradiction to what I said above, but if we had more tracks and trains, this wouldn't happen - or not so spectacularly - and train travel, tho' slower than air, obviously, is fun, damn it!  There are a lot of people traveling who are in a hurry, so they can fly.  However, there are also a lot who aren't necessarily in such a hurry or can't fly, for one reason or another, who would benefit with more available, varied, train travel.  And it sounds very much as if freight can be moved more economically via rail than truck.  It would relieve the stress on drivers and the physical road beds if there were more trains and fewer trucks - also fewer car drivers.  I wonder, again, if we haven't made a big mistake - and also if there's a fix.

posted by: mafidl at February 16, 2008 11:00 | link | comments (1) |
travel

Hey Y'all

My last post wasn't just on politics.  Down at the bottom, which you might not have reached, I asked for help for a friend.  I'll quote myself here:
" A colleague's [DR's] wife kept feeding a cat, who then had 3 kittens.  Since my colleague is allergic to cats, they all live outside.  They did take the cats to the vet and have been looking after them properly.  Mama cat has now run away, they've found homes for 2 of the kittens, so only have 1 kitty left, and are trying to find a home for it.  I have a question.  How can you give medicine [either powder mixed in food or liquid, or even in liquid form] to an outside kitty, who is resisting taking it, and not cause it to run away?  My colleague would definitely appreciate it if you have any helpful suggestions."
If you don't have any suggestions, that is, of course, OK, but if you do I'd appreciate it.

posted by: mafidl at February 16, 2008 10:03 | link | comments |
kitties

Politics, etc.

I have listened to various speeches made by Obama, Clinton, McCain and Huckabee.  They each have something interesting, even good to say.  An obvious question: how much of what he or she wants/intends to accomplish if elected can he or she actually do - legally or practically?  Hillary's health plan sounds better than Obama's, but her intention to not allow Congressmen to give themselves a raise until the minimum wage is increased to $9.50/hr is something I wonder about - practically speaking.  As I said on an earlier post, the thought of electing the candidate [Huckabee] who does not believe in evolution [gravity and photosynthesis?] makes me ill, but the good news is that even with a "miracle" it seems unlikely.  Then there is McCain, who, frankly, scares me with his discussion of the war in Iraq.  I believe he also is hawkish on Iran, but that may be wrong.  I do not believe that we can just automatically pull out all of our troops from Iraq [and Afghanistan, for that matter] - but how much longer are we going to send our young men to what might be their deaths?
On another note:  my cousin D from Seattle will be arriving back from Panama Saturday.  I decided I have to have help keeping my house clean, so have engaged 2 women recommended to me by someone I trust, to start doing that.  Specifically,  they are coming Friday morning, and having done a walk through my [not very large, 2 story condo] have decided that they can only do one floor Friday.  Sigh!  The wages of sin [my being,possibly, one of the worst housekeepers on the planet? - nah! I've definitely seen worse on Animal Cops ...] are upon me.  Next week they will return to do the other floor and thereafter, both floors once a week.  My place was somewhat dirtier than I usually let it get, so I agreed to this, and will clean the upstairs, with a little help from a friend, myself - this afternoon and Friday.  Now all I have to do is acquire some extra cleaning supplies, etc and food to make for Saturday night.  We decided that, since he's doing a lot of hiking in Panama, he might like to relax Saturday and I'm going to cook Chili con Carne y Maiz. Also, I will try to find the cornbread recipe of my late Zoo co-day captain, Pat, and make that.  Maybe a small salad, also.  Forget the dessert - I've been not watching my blood sugar quite well enuf recently, so ...
So that I can spend the maximum time with D I've managed my teaching schedule so that I could cancel my Monday and Tuesday classes - I love a 5-day weekend! 
A colleague's [DR's] wife kept feeding a cat, who then had 3 kittens.  Since my colleague is allergic to cats, they all live outside.  They did take the cats to the vet and have been looking after them properly.  Mama cat has now run away, they've found homes for 2 of the kittens, so only have 1 kitty left, and are trying to find a home for it.  I have a question.  How can you give medicine [either powder mixed in food or liquid, or even in liquid form] to an outside kitty, who is resisting taking it, and not cause it to run away?  My colleague would definitely appreciate it if you have any helpful suggestions.
All for now, TTFN.

posted by: mafidl at February 14, 2008 10:42 | link | comments (1) |
humor, cooking, family, kitties, housework

Yay Seattle!!! Fired Up

Note to self:  read emails when they arrive.  This Just In - sorry Rog. Whatever your politics, Seattle has great musicians:

posted by: mafidl at February 10, 2008 10:04 | link | comments (1) |
music, politics, excitement

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