Some things would not happen to technology (tech) experts because they know how things work and what to expect (or watch out for)

N the past 2+ decades I did not lose data. Prior to that I only lost things I did not value, like old and mostly meaningless E-mails from the 1990s (not MP3s, I had those backed up). I make regular backups, I keep a spare machine in case the main one fails, and I maintain the hardware to make sure it works or be fully aware when it is about to fail. When my storage device finally failed in January 2023, for example, I had already prepared for it for about 12 months because there were warning signs. I no longer stored on it anything essential. Likewise, in 2020, I moved away from “ted” when it was giving some warnings, so when “ted” (used by me since 2013) finally died nothing of value was lost and no time wasted. I also keep external backups and we have fire extinguishing kits just in case.

People who have been around in tech for a long time and properly understand tech prepare for disasters in advance. So they don’t become disasters at all, they just involve a bit of work (to get fully back to speed).

Feels like the week ended, seriously

don’t know why, but it feels like a Friday today. Friday is still far away and it’ll be our wedding anniversary.

On Thursday we promised we’d like to spend hours with the parents, then an hour or so with the birds at the park. Friday: cards, celebrations, drinking. Saturday: day out, visit to Town. Sunday: rest. Monday: long trips to 3 places.

We’ve had a generally calm and productive month. More so after 9/11.

I think that the more I get done, the faster time passes. They say boredom “slows down” passage of time (in one’s mind of body clock).

I doubt I’ll ever become an elderly person who only gets up to open the blinds, then watches TV (or whatever) until shutting the blinds again. Such a life would be pointless.

This time for real

T seems quite safe to predict that Enzo’s first cup match with City, this coming Thursday at home, will be a breeze. The one home game after that, against Sunderland, won’t be easy based on what happened to Arsenal (it did not win easily).

Today we went past the stadium a couple of times to feed the birds as it truly felt like summer. After half an hour a toddler started chasing and scaring them (at least her mother objected to it).

It is probably the hottest day in the remainder of this year. Several hours this morning were spent gardening in preparing for ‘true’ autumn.

Winter will be a breeze. We hope all our fish will survive it.

This man’s dad is dead.

did not need a reminder that the name Roy is for very old people and very seldom given to men younger than myself.

I did – in my lifetime – meet Roys younger than me, but they’re not much younger and they are very are.

Roy Burnham has passed on, but not before seeing his son winning high honours and before enough scandals render him another “former PM”.

Time to come back

passed by the Depot twice today and it looks like the gardening work at the front end or entrance is more or less finished (sans the fencing).

I hope the birds will return there. They used to hang around there and we fed them there before the work on the new coffee shop and garden began. Now the birds have apparently migrated elsewhere.

For the birds, this garden will be vastly better than the gravel that used to be there. At one point we saw a crow eating a dead pigeon there.

Derby ongoing

‘ve just published Part 181 of a long series about what we went through. I gave some background information for uninitiated readers.

In my experience, the bullying tactics have involved throwing disinformation our way; or a variant: throw some baits our way, see if we eat them.

This is a pattern of attacks on media in the UK (and elsewhere), so we need to do something about this whole phenomenon.

Don’t capitulate, fight back.

Consider the SLAPP industry in the UK. We’ll need see which one gets fish (business of SLAPP), then study the fish and talk about it. We’ll see what triggers the SLAPP companies, then focus more on that. We’ll get warmer and closer to their “skeletons in the closet” over time.

I reckon I can spent another decade dealing with this problem.

They know the face!

HE other day or about a week ago in Mayfield we tested the birds to see if they can recognise us and distinguish us (from the crowds passing by). Some birds did. When they see us – and they do in fact know the faces – they know food has arrived. No mnemonic like clapping necessary anymore.

One bird then follows the other. A flock forms.

Birds are smart.