Day: May 23, 2021

My Week Ending 2021-05-23

by dougpete, posted in Just Rambling

Here’s a summary of some of the things I learned and published this week.

Readings 

You can follow my daily readings as they happen here.  Below are a selected few, with commentary, from the past week.

Sunday

  • I do enjoy going to Union Station in Toronto and just walking around looking at things. Here’s a bit of a history of it
  • I’m not sure that a study about teacher stress is needed or would reveal anything new but this is at least confirming

Monday

  • I don’t know that I will ever buy another laptop that isn’t a Chromebook. As they become more powerful, it seems to make sense to me
  • I really like the technique of merging old photos with new photos. I’ve tried it myself with some success

Tuesday

  • Usually, articles like this seem to be overrated when you start to read them but if you’re curious about airplanes, it’s a good read
  • I’ve got to believe that the only people that like quadmesters are administrators for ease in scheduling but teachers and students sure don’t like them

Wednesday

  • Starting a career in teaching is a challenge at best but imagine doing it during the current pandemic
  • Moose and swimming pools in the back yard are generally two things that you don’t want to see happen together

Thursday

  • Firefox leaps ahead with more security for web browsing
  • If you’re a golfer or a tennis player, this was a preview of how the Premier wants to appeal to you

Friday

  • If you’ve ever raised kids or taught younger children, you can absolutely see this happening – driving a hijacker crazy
  • Well, what else could go wrong for teacher candidates – is this really the year to have the mandatory mathematics test?

Saturday

  • I think we’re going to hear a great deal about digital vaccination certificates going forward
  • Well, schools would be open if it wasn’t for the threatened injunction by teacher unions is part of the rationale for no mention of schools in the reopening plan

Blog Posts on
doug … off the record

My daily contributions to this blog are linked below. If you’re looking for a week in review for doug–off the record, you came to the right place.

#FollowFriday – May 21, 2021

https://wakelet.com/wake/YRh8yYSkJIO1eXXSq8RA3

voicEd Radio

On this week’s show, Stephen Hurley and I chatted about Media Literacy, Outlook, Well-being, Apologies, and Wisdom to our younger selves.

Featured bloggers:

  • Association for Media Literacy – @A_M_L_
  • Cal Armstrong – @sig225
  • Charles Pascal – @CEPascal
  • Debbie Donsky – @DebbieDonsky
  • Matthew Oldridge – @MatthewOldridge
https://voiced.ca/podcast_episode_post/picture-this-apologetic-anatomy-and-letters-to-my-younger-self/

Opening Song:

Closing Song:

All of the podcasts are archived here. The show is broadcast LIVE almost every Wednesday morning at 8:45 on voicEd Radio.

Technology Troubleshooting

Recently, I indulged myself and bought a new keyboard to attach to this computer. Instead of the typical consumer product, I decided to treat myself and bought myself a mechanical gaming keyboard.

It’s the nicest feel to a keyboard that I’ve had in years. There is actually travel to the keys. It reminds me of the IBM Selectric typewriter keyboard from years gone by.

Then, I had a problem. The “N” key would randomly double or triple itself. My first thought was that I had dropped some food and it went under the key. So, I picked up the keyboard and blew on it. Stuff came out, mostly dust, but that didn’t solve the problem.

So, I brought out a bigger ax. On the bookshelf, I have a can of compressed air. I pulled the key cap off and gave it a substantial blast. A little more stuff but no solution.

I was getting more frustrated by the minute until I remember that Windows actually has a keyboard setting. I’m still not fully fluent with the new Settings panel so rather than poke around there, I just opened the Control Panel.

I just slide the “Repeat delay” slider to the left one notch and problem solved!

Video of the Week

Mine is plastic and came with the keyboard.

Photo of the Week

From happier travelling times, the Peace Fountain on the Windsor waterfront. That’s Detroit in the distance and the compass in the forefront is a reminder that Detroit is indeed north of Windsor.

Thanks for reading.

Please join me daily for something new and, hopefully, interesting for you. I honestly and truthfully appreciate your few moments reading my thoughts. Time willing, this summary appears every Sunday afternoon.

Be safe.

dp

This blog post was originally posted at:

https://dougpete.wordpress.com/

If you find it anywhere else, it’s not original.

Whatever happened to …

by dougpete, posted in OTR

cheques / chequebooks?

I took a look at the Padlet that’s open for ideas for this post and noticed this suggestion. It even came with its own questions so this post practically writes itself.

The whole notion of payments has changed over the past year for us. Around here, most payments at the point of sale has been Visa since our banker adviser suggested this particular card and the rewards that you get for use. Even a drive through at Tim Horton’s where our typical order would be a medium black coffee and a small black coffee is paid by tap at the window. We’ve also noticed, from other purchases, that the limit per purchase has increased. I’m guessing it’s to reflect the new reality.

Even buying gasoline is a tap away at most pumps. I do have to do a “grrrrr” as Canadian Tire pumps usually don’t like Visa tap. But Mastercard has never been an issue.

I had to smile when I read these questions because I’d be hard pressed to answer them accurately. I’m sure that we have a chequebook around here somewhere and I could hazard a guess as to where it is but I don’t use it and can’t remember the last time I did.

So, for a Sunday, what are your thoughts?

  • When was the last time someone gave/sent you a cheque?
  • When was the last time you wrote someone a cheque?
  • Do you still have a chequebook?
  • If so, when the cheques in your chequebook run out, will you order replacements?
  • When was the last time you went to the bank to deposit a cheque?
  • Have you ever use a program to print personal cheques directly from your computer?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

And, if you have a great idea for a Sunday morning topic, please add it to the Padlet or reach out to me personally with it.

OTR Links 05/23/2021

by dougpete, posted in Links

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.