I’m seriously paranoid these days. I just went to get my mail and a young girl on her bike was sitting in front of our mailboxes. I hesitated to go nearer until she rode off, then I held my breath and checked my box. No mail. Went home, washed my face, took a shower. Then I had hot cup of coffee. All this to avoid a highly unlikely corona transmission, sheesh. Still. Some chance, however slight, is not the same as no chance. So now I get to countdown the days of incubation all over again. Fun. 😐
Alexa plug not working? Restart your router first!
After fiddling about and getting nowhere with re-registering a plug for my light, trying a new plug, still nowhere, I restarted my router. Bingo! All back to normal.
Poison oak – watch out for your clothing!
Weed wacked poison oak yesterday wearing log sleeve shirt, face guard and gloves. Took a shower after. However, apparently some poison oak was on my clothes and I made the mistake of putting on the same pair of pants later in the day. Not a bad case of poison oak, just mild itching, but still – could have been avoided if I’d simply thrown the pants in the wash. Lesson learned.
Longer string length doesn’t really work
As an experiment I decided to go extra long with my trimmer string. Not a good idea as the added drag slows the RPM and puts strain on the engine. More importantly, the forces exerted kept spinning the attachment pole out of it’s locked position. So it’s back to recommend string length before I burn out my Toro – hopefully it’s not too late.
Melting the ends of weed trimmer line
I’m using the LoNoiz .130-Inch-by-150-Foot Spool Commercial Grade Spiral Twist Quiet 1-Pound Grass Trimmer Line, Black LN130DLG-12
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E2D3DU/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It’s fantastic, except it does fray at the ends after awhile. So it occurred to me that maybe I should try the old nylon rope trick of melting the ends shut using a lighter. Did that yesterday. Now comes the test!
When cats go AWOL
Yesterday one of my feral cats didn’t show up for food. Unusual for her, I called and called, no show. Then today I went looking for her, calling out as I went. Suddenly I heard her distinctive meow and there she was under my car. I picked her up, but she did not look like her chipper self, and when I put her down she scurried off under the deck. Has not come out since. I suspect she’s sick and is just waiting out for the bug to pass. At least that’s my hope!
Zoom H4 as audio interface
Using the Zoom H4 as audio interface for external condenser mic.
- Plug in external mic to Zoom Input 1 and set Input 1 level to High
- Connect Mac computer using USB cable to Zoom
- Audio I/O →
- Press Jog Wheel →
- Connect →
- Press Jog Wheel →
- No Card →
- MENU →
- OK →
- MIC →
- Press Jog Wheel UP →
- IN1 →
- Press Jog Wheel to Select →
- Press Jog Wheel DOWN to advance screen to Phantom Power →
- Press Jog Wheel to Select →
- Phantom Power →
- Press Jog Wheel UP →
- +48V →
- Press Jog Wheel to Select →
- MENU →
- OK →
- Terminate Connection →
- OK →
- Mac: System Preferences →
- Sound →
- H4 USB →
JamKazam and iMac setup
- Comcast XFINITY (87.2Mbps/5.72Mbps)
- 2015 iMac (21.5″, 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5)
- 2019 Netgear Cable Modem CM500
- 2009 AirPort Extreme (MC340LL/A Model No. A1354)
JamKazam Issue: No audio
Solution:
Disconnect AirPort Extreme and go direct from Ethernet to Ethernet (Netgear to iMac). For some reason, the AirPort Extreme auxiliary Ethernet ports are not a true bypass, but conflict with JamKazam.
Just got back from Costco
Wore mask, brought disinfectant wipes, stood in line, got my stuff and tried to get out of there as fast as possible. Drove home, removed clothes in another room and then jumped in the shower.
I’m most probably OK, but the clock for incubation for COVID-19 in my mind has started all over again anyway.😐
Dealing with garlic, Part Two
Thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown, I’ve been cooking, a lot. Lately it’s been mostly potatoes and garlic in olive oil. Much as I enjoy smashing and peeling garlic, then cutting it up with a knife, I’ve found a better way (again!).
1. Put a bunch of garlic cloves in a plastic jar (I use one of the Kirkland Mixed Nuts), close lid, then shake vigorously until the paper falls off.
2. Bring out the food processor and chop up the garlic.
That’s it!
Much, much easier and you can do many days worth of chopped garlic literally in about a minute!
