C.J. Moseley's Blog, page 196
March 28, 2013
Things you can do as a writer when your computer runs out of power
Read
Make plot outlines on paper since outlines are usually short enough that a computer isn’t necessary
Think about how best to phrase things in your story once you get your computer back
Think of a new idea
Ask people questions about their lives, your ears tuned for little details to put in your stories
Pretend to be one of your characters
I know its not in the real spirit of the thing but…
plug it in
write on google docs with your phone
take some photos that you can use as cover art
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March 27, 2013
An amazing project, one day we might need them…
An amazing project, one day we might need them too…
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Nigeria’s Cost & Energy-Efficient Floating Schools (by NLÉ)
The Makoko Floating School is an ambitious project that is currently under construction in the water community of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria by NLÉ, a collaborative agency whose mission is to provide architectural change for developing cities. The project seeks to create floating buildings that are designed to serve as educational classrooms for neighborhood children.
The three-story architectural structure, built as a triangular prism, is intended to float on water with a base made of 256 plastic drums. The floating construct is built with locally sourced wood, electrically powered with solar panels, and designed to house about 100 students.
While this first generation of floating buildings is being designated solely as educational center, the project is opening a new chapter in architectural design that can be applied to a variety of facilities for poor communities like Makoko to urbanize efficiently. Because of the project’s green initiatives, each building is more affordable and cost-effective. Additionally, they accommodate for the climate changes that are resulting in the rise of sea levels.
March 26, 2013
A very bad ninja in a gorgeous photo
A very bad ninja in a gorgeous photo More →
March 25, 2013
Amazon affiliate update
Amazon updated their European affiliate agreement and hidden away I spotted this…
You must, however, clearly state the following on your site: “[Insert your name] is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to [insert applicable site name (Amazon.co.uk/Javari.co.uk/Amazon.de/ Javari.de/de.BuyVIP.com/Amazon.fr/Jav... es.BuyVIP.com)].”
So I need to add that and check on the .com agreement. I wonder which takes precedence? As I send people to their local amazon rather than my local amazon... Odd for a multinational to not bear that in mind I thought… but until then…
CJ Moseley is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.
There job done…
You must, however, clearly state the following on your site: “[Insert your name] is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to [insert applicable site name (Amazon.co.uk/Javari.co.uk/Amazon.de/ Javari.de/de.BuyVIP.com/Amazon.fr/Jav... es.BuyVIP.com)].”
So I need to add that and check on the .com agreement. I wonder which takes precedence? As I send people to their local amazon rather than my local amazon... Odd for a multinational to not bear that in mind I thought… but until then…
CJ Moseley is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.
There job done…
March 24, 2013
Freezing cold
The UK is suffering under some wintery weather at the moment.
It doesn't snow often in Liverpool - in fact in the twenty years I've lived here I have seen snow lying on the ground on only six occasions. The city is pretty much coastal and quite sheltered from the worst the Irish Sea lets through, so generally its warm and, at worst, wet. But this winter we have had snow falls (not that plural it's never happened before), and for snow to 'stick' at this time of year is unprecedented as far as I know here.
I don't know if this part of a new trend, with the North Atlantic Conveyor potentially slowing, we might expect Northern Europe's climate to resemble the Canadian and Russian we share longitude with, or this could be a freak, just another extreme weather system as global warming adds additional chaos to the system.
I even joke tweeted that it was the start of an new ice-age. Which is a possibility, though fairly remote… but that's the thing about tipping points in climatology, its hard to predict how they'll tip. Global warming can cause a sudden inversion that causes snow storms and sudden global cooling, there's even some evidence to support the idea that when Ice-Ages start they start hard and fast with a year without summer. We're not there yet, but that's still a worry.
So, of course on Friday night as the snow was creating the only inner city blizzard I have ever seen. Our central heating suddenly made the most hideous metallic crashing and banging noise ( downstairs it sounded like someone was knocking furniture around upstairs with a ladder).
Then we heard a noise like metal debris travelling in the water pipes which shot upstairs.
I ran upstairs and turned the boiler off.
Of course no city plumber is going to come out in a blizzard, and besides the one we called said “Not to worry, it will just be airlocks, easily dealt with by draining and refilling, noisy but not dangerous. If you need heating just turn it back on, it will be fine."
Only it wouldn't turn back on… The pilot had gone out and refused to stay lit as the blizzard was driving directly into the vents and kept blowing the pilot out.
It was pretty cold yesterday and colder still last night. The Mrs, both boys and I had to snuggle in one bed for warmth. The eldest one (aged 8) cannot sleep still. He wriggles, and writhes, and shudders, and twists, and snores now.
I did not sleep well, and have another similar night to face before the plumber will arrive tomorrow to take a look.
And to make matters worse, I did manage to relight the Pilot and get the boiler going again. I turned on the pump and everything worked for about thirty seconds before there was another enormous clang and the pilot light went out again. This time it relit fine and everything seemed hunky-dory… for about a minute before the clanging stated up and reached the pump. Still the pipes seemed to warm up briefly, only the pipe connected to the motor seemed very hot. The Mrs said the pump was hot, and like an idiot I touched it. Luckily we had plenty if cold water about for me to run the burn under.
Heating is off, and cool, we can't find the hot water bottles and the sun is going down.
I'm just going to the kitchen, I may be some time…
It doesn't snow often in Liverpool - in fact in the twenty years I've lived here I have seen snow lying on the ground on only six occasions. The city is pretty much coastal and quite sheltered from the worst the Irish Sea lets through, so generally its warm and, at worst, wet. But this winter we have had snow falls (not that plural it's never happened before), and for snow to 'stick' at this time of year is unprecedented as far as I know here.
I don't know if this part of a new trend, with the North Atlantic Conveyor potentially slowing, we might expect Northern Europe's climate to resemble the Canadian and Russian we share longitude with, or this could be a freak, just another extreme weather system as global warming adds additional chaos to the system.
I even joke tweeted that it was the start of an new ice-age. Which is a possibility, though fairly remote… but that's the thing about tipping points in climatology, its hard to predict how they'll tip. Global warming can cause a sudden inversion that causes snow storms and sudden global cooling, there's even some evidence to support the idea that when Ice-Ages start they start hard and fast with a year without summer. We're not there yet, but that's still a worry.
So, of course on Friday night as the snow was creating the only inner city blizzard I have ever seen. Our central heating suddenly made the most hideous metallic crashing and banging noise ( downstairs it sounded like someone was knocking furniture around upstairs with a ladder).
Then we heard a noise like metal debris travelling in the water pipes which shot upstairs.
I ran upstairs and turned the boiler off.
Of course no city plumber is going to come out in a blizzard, and besides the one we called said “Not to worry, it will just be airlocks, easily dealt with by draining and refilling, noisy but not dangerous. If you need heating just turn it back on, it will be fine."
Only it wouldn't turn back on… The pilot had gone out and refused to stay lit as the blizzard was driving directly into the vents and kept blowing the pilot out.
It was pretty cold yesterday and colder still last night. The Mrs, both boys and I had to snuggle in one bed for warmth. The eldest one (aged 8) cannot sleep still. He wriggles, and writhes, and shudders, and twists, and snores now.
I did not sleep well, and have another similar night to face before the plumber will arrive tomorrow to take a look.
And to make matters worse, I did manage to relight the Pilot and get the boiler going again. I turned on the pump and everything worked for about thirty seconds before there was another enormous clang and the pilot light went out again. This time it relit fine and everything seemed hunky-dory… for about a minute before the clanging stated up and reached the pump. Still the pipes seemed to warm up briefly, only the pipe connected to the motor seemed very hot. The Mrs said the pump was hot, and like an idiot I touched it. Luckily we had plenty if cold water about for me to run the burn under.
Heating is off, and cool, we can't find the hot water bottles and the sun is going down.
I'm just going to the kitchen, I may be some time…
March 23, 2013
“The Anahata chakra symbolizes the consciousness of love,…
“The Anahata chakra symbolizes the consciousness of love, empathy, selflessness and devotion. On the psychic level, this centre of force inspires the human being to love, be compassionate, altruistic, devoted and to accept the things that happen in a divine way.” -wikipedia
More →March 22, 2013
Another Effin Office Bug
Why on Microsoft Office can you not
Automatically Copy Margin and Page settings from one document to another
Reset a document back to Normal.doc
Ever have the Page or Margin settings in different Windows open at the same time
It's so frustrating. I've got 3 books ready to transfer over to Lulu and publish in actual paperback (or maybe hardback format) with all the extra e-book formats going and all I need to do is use the Lulu template...
Only you can't transfer the settings from one document to another... Why? Its just data - my data - why can't I manipulate my data my way Microsoft?
Even if I accept that there may be a problem with automatic transfer of that kind of thing (someone somewhere would manage to mess up their document and destroy any chance of retrieving it somehow - you can't make software damn fool proof), why do they insist that you must close the page and margin settings before you click on another Word Window? It's just deliberately obtuse. There is no reason for it...
Oh sure I can invent reasons, that probably sound brilliant to the sort of committee that decides functionality in Redmond, after all the User might forget to come back to that window and try to shutdown with the window open - only you can't actually get a Windows machine to shutdown any more without clicking the Yes I'm sure and Force shutdown buttons at least once. So why is this?
All I want is to be able to hold the settings for one Word documents Margins open while I copy the data to the other window. I shouldn't have to resort to "Prt Scrn" and pasting in Photoshop or Paint or having to copy it into Notepad and then into the window after I've closed the dialogue. Bad UI Microsoft - how long have you been at this - and you still manage to annoy with what should have been a simple task, I mean its not like this is a cheap bit of shareware I downloaded, Word is one of the more expensive word - processors (at least with the whole Office monstrosity it is - I have never installed LookOut, PowerPointless, and you don't give us Access in the normal Office setup anymore so Office for me consists of Word and Excel [which doesn't]). Please for Ebook authors everywhere sort this out, Make it easy to transfer our documents to different templates.
Automatically Copy Margin and Page settings from one document to another
Reset a document back to Normal.doc
Ever have the Page or Margin settings in different Windows open at the same time
It's so frustrating. I've got 3 books ready to transfer over to Lulu and publish in actual paperback (or maybe hardback format) with all the extra e-book formats going and all I need to do is use the Lulu template...
Only you can't transfer the settings from one document to another... Why? Its just data - my data - why can't I manipulate my data my way Microsoft?
Even if I accept that there may be a problem with automatic transfer of that kind of thing (someone somewhere would manage to mess up their document and destroy any chance of retrieving it somehow - you can't make software damn fool proof), why do they insist that you must close the page and margin settings before you click on another Word Window? It's just deliberately obtuse. There is no reason for it...
Oh sure I can invent reasons, that probably sound brilliant to the sort of committee that decides functionality in Redmond, after all the User might forget to come back to that window and try to shutdown with the window open - only you can't actually get a Windows machine to shutdown any more without clicking the Yes I'm sure and Force shutdown buttons at least once. So why is this?
All I want is to be able to hold the settings for one Word documents Margins open while I copy the data to the other window. I shouldn't have to resort to "Prt Scrn" and pasting in Photoshop or Paint or having to copy it into Notepad and then into the window after I've closed the dialogue. Bad UI Microsoft - how long have you been at this - and you still manage to annoy with what should have been a simple task, I mean its not like this is a cheap bit of shareware I downloaded, Word is one of the more expensive word - processors (at least with the whole Office monstrosity it is - I have never installed LookOut, PowerPointless, and you don't give us Access in the normal Office setup anymore so Office for me consists of Word and Excel [which doesn't]). Please for Ebook authors everywhere sort this out, Make it easy to transfer our documents to different templates.
Leave him to me… I will deal with him,…
Leave him to me… I will deal with him, myself…
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http://scificity.tumblr.com
Darth Vader and The Terminator.
