Random Raves ΜΔ: Crate Expectations

[aimeeandbeatles]

Well it's certainly not an olfactory problem!

That stinks.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Is this an eyesight problem?

I haven't suddenly lost the knowledge of how to read. I just can't read anything printed on paper because it's just a blur of grey on a white page. I can read stuff on the computer if it's on a dark background and very large.

Yes, it's a vision problem. Surgery is scheduled a month from now, but I suspect by that time I probably won't be seeing well enough to post here. I'm hoping desperately that there will be a cancellation before then. After that the main problem is to find someone to help me take care of Maddy because I won't be allowed to bend down to clean the litter box or feed her if her dishes are on the floor (she already jumps up on the counter when she thinks I don't know, so feeding her won't be a problem).

I really want to continue with my story as long as possible. I've got so much of it running around in my mind that isn't on paper or on the computer yet, and don't want to risk forgetting.

 

[Synobun]

I haven't suddenly lost the knowledge of how to read. I just can't read anything printed on paper because it's just a blur of grey on a white page. I can read stuff on the computer if it's on a dark background and very large.

Yes, it's a vision problem. Surgery is scheduled a month from now, but I suspect by that time I probably won't be seeing well enough to post here. I'm hoping desperately that there will be a cancellation before then. After that the main problem is to find someone to help me take care of Maddy because I won't be allowed to bend down to clean the litter box or feed her if her dishes are on the floor (she already jumps up on the counter when she thinks I don't know, so feeding her won't be a problem).

I really want to continue with my story as long as possible. I've got so much of it running around in my mind that isn't on paper or on the computer yet, and don't want to risk forgetting.

Have you tried Dragon NaturallySpeaking? I loathe dictation software but I've heard good things about that one. It does need a microphone, and it does cost money for the software... but it'd at least let you get thoughts down once you can no longer type effectively enough before/after the surgery.

Not enough notice on a limited budget, probably... Losing my eyesight is something that gives me extreme pause.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

If you'd like, I can also see if there's a freeware magnifier that's better than the one built into Windows.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Have you tried Dragon NaturallySpeaking? I loathe dictation software but I've heard good things about that one. It does need a microphone, and it does cost money for the software... but it'd at least let you get thoughts down once you can no longer type effectively enough before/after the surgery.

Not enough notice on a limited budget, probably... Losing my eyesight is something that gives me extreme pause.

Unfortunately, I don't have a microphone. I'll look into it, though, since there are times when my hands and fingers are really painful and it hurts to type. Thank you for the recommendation.

If you'd like, I can also see if there's a freeware magnifier that's better than the one built into Windows.

Thank you, Aimee, I would really appreciate that.

 

[Broken_Erika]

Holding down the ctrl key and using the scroll wheel changes the size of text on web browsers(well on firefox and microsoft edge anyways.....)

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Works on chrome-based browsers, too.

Thank you, Aimee, I would really appreciate that.

Quick look brings up three worth looking into:

OneLoupe
Virtual Magnifying Glass (open-source)
GlassBrick (Softpedia link because the developer's site is pretty scant)

 

[Takhisis]

I haven't suddenly lost the knowledge of how to read. I just can't read anything printed on paper because it's just a blur of grey on a white page. I can read stuff on the computer if it's on a dark background and very large.

I thought it might be something else, seeing how dyslexia is more common than people think (a dyslexic person I know IRL demonstrated how it works unintentionally yesterday).

Yes, it's a vision problem. Surgery is scheduled a month from now, but I suspect by that time I probably won't be seeing well enough to post here. I'm hoping desperately that there will be a cancellation before then. After that the main problem is to find someone to help me take care of Maddy because I won't be allowed to bend down to clean the litter box or feed her if her dishes are on the floor (she already jumps up on the counter when she thinks I don't know, so feeding her won't be a problem).

I really want to continue with my story as long as possible. I've got so much of it running around in my mind that isn't on paper or on the computer yet, and don't want to risk forgetting.

I don't know about the cat, but about software you could simply record your thoughts as you speak them.

You could try writing up a short, concise version in advance. I should one day write a few dozen thousand words so one afternoon last year I spent writing it all in short unadorned prose and did a 4,000-word outline.

 

[Takhisis]

Rave: Macdonald's lost a copyright battle against Irish fast-food chain Supermac's (they argued that the name could be mistaken for their own BigMac) and lost the exclusive right to the name ‘Big Mac’ in EU member countries.

So now Burger King's European branches are advertising:

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

That's hilarious.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Small rave: I might be getting a small job of designing a website. Might.

 

[Kyriakos]

I wrote a quite good new 4500 word short story, in one go, starting at 3.30 am and ending at 7.30 am. The title is nice too: the ultimate bridge.
While the progression has clear ties to Lovecraft's the statement of randolph carter, style and symbols are paricular to myself and more dreamlike/bleaker. A vertical progression of dimly lit bridges in a chaotic black void.

 

[FriendlyFire]

I haven't suddenly lost the knowledge of how to read. I just can't read anything printed on paper because it's just a blur of grey on a white page. I can read stuff on the computer if it's on a dark background and very large.

Yes, it's a vision problem. Surgery is scheduled a month from now, but I suspect by that time I probably won't be seeing well enough to post here. I'm hoping desperately that there will be a cancellation before then. After that the main problem is to find someone to help me take care of Maddy because I won't be allowed to bend down to clean the litter box or feed her if her dishes are on the floor (she already jumps up on the counter when she thinks I don't know, so feeding her won't be a problem).

I really want to continue with my story as long as possible. I've got so much of it running around in my mind that isn't on paper or on the computer yet, and don't want to risk forgetting.

Is it too late to train cat to urinate in the toilet using a cat training device ?
I think probably should just set up meals for yourself first, after eye surgery you probably need a small stockpile of ready meals without any preparation

Waiting list are the price we paid for our universal healthcare system but its better then the US where if you dont have healthcare might as well die quickly
All the best and a speedy recovery

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

The landlord sent someone up to fix the closet door. There wasn't a leak, just a lot of damp weather. They did something with the hinges. I can now open it without pulling at all.

 

[Traitorfish]

The landlord sent someone up to fix the closet door. There wasn't a leak, just a lot of damp weather. They did something with the hinges. I can now open it without pulling at all.

Took me a solid second to realise you didn't mean, like, with your mind.

 

[Takhisis]

Ssshhh, that's supposed to be a secret.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Is it too late to train cat to urinate in the toilet using a cat training device ?

She's 11 (will be 12 in June), so I think it's late to be teaching her new things. Besides, she's not allowed in the bathroom.

I think probably should just set up meals for yourself first, after eye surgery you probably need a small stockpile of ready meals without any preparation

Meals for myself won't be much of a problem as long as I can manage the microwave and don't have to try to read anything. But today I had to get someone to read the instructions to me so I'd know what to do.

Maddy's going to have to eat on the table, and I'll have to have more of her stuff in smaller containers within easy reach. It's the litter box that's the problem (thank goodness I laid in a good supply of cat stuff; I won't be done with surgeries until nearly the end of May).

Waiting list are the price we paid for our universal healthcare system but its better then the US where if you dont have healthcare might as well die quickly

I had myself put on the "short notice" list to hopefully get in quicker if someone cancels (there's a stiff cost for canceling, though). At first I'd been told it could be six months, but thank goodness I'm getting in sooner. I think it might have made a difference that I have another serious medical issue to manage - and I need to be able to see for that. It's already a challenge.

All the best and a speedy recovery

Thank you!

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Edit: oops. I thought this was the rants thread.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Small rave: Adding a crawl-delay to robots.txt seems to have improved things a bit more for the site. The only time that the webhost's process-killer activates is when the bad malicious bots hammer the site too fast. I guess they're looking for exploits. I'm looking for a solution for that. I guess I can block the user-agent with htaccess but then other bots will pop up.

Anti-Hammer looks promising.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Bigger rave: I finally finished the tour dates page. I'm a little glad I don't have to try to spell Masscahuetts anymore.