I’m currently rebuilding the website as the old one got totally messed up when i was playing around with things (no idea what happened).
So i thought that while it was a total clusterfuck mess of SQL, i would take the opportunity to give it a whole new life and everything.
So if you go clicking on things you might find that very strange things happen. Don’t moan, i know a lot of things are broken, i’m working on it, it takes time.
I’ve got tons of old posts and pages from three websites that i’m working through and will be gradually posting all the stuff i want to keep on here while fixing all the broken things as i go through, one post, one page, at a time.
On top of doing all that, i will, of course, be continuing to add more new content and my latest posts will always appear directly below.
Or, if you prefer, you can also follow me on Twitter and Pinterest where i put a link to all new posts.
Enjoy
A Fire Born of Exile — Aliette de Bodard
Another super good story from Aliette’s Xuya universe. I’m thinking this is probably the longest one so far: it’ll certainly keep you occupied for a good while.
Our protagonist, and her mindship friend, have both come back from the dead (that’s the exile bit) hell set on revenge against those who executed them. But revenge isn’t quite as straight forward as they would like it to be.
If you haven’t read any Xuya stories yet then get yourself over to Aliette’s “all things Xuya page” and find out where to start and what it’s all about. Basically, it’s just really good sci-fi, from a really good writer, with a wonderful Asian flavour to it all.
Aliette’s Page
#scifi #aliettedebodard
Colemak DH Progress: 30 WPM
On day thirteen of my Colemak DH journey i managed to break through the 30 wpm barrier all the way up to 31.35 wpm . . .
I’d like to say ‘Next update at 40 wpm’, but i’m hopefully changing keyboard again in the next couple of days to a Lily58, which, i think, is going to put me right back to the beginning again. Ho hum, i’m sure it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Bye for now!!!
#5t4n5 #colemakdh #mechanicalkeyboards #monkeytype #keebs
Colemak DH Progress
On day three of my Colemak DH journey i managed to break through the 20 wpm barrier and hit the dizzying speed of 21.11 wpm . . .
I’m feeling quite pleased with myself. Next stop 30 wpm.
Goodnight!!!
#5t4n5 #colemakdh #mechanicalkeyboards #monkeytype #keebs
Keyboard Change to Colemak-DH
So, after over 30 years of touch typing on qwerty i decided it was time to try something different, and after much thinking and a fair bit of research, i changed my nice new keyboard over to Colemak-DH . . .
Admittedly, it’s quite a challenge learning a whole new keyboard layout, but i’m really enjoying it so far. Although my Monkeytype score has plummeted from 72 wpm down to 14 wpm . . .
Ho hum!
I’m now left wondering how long it’s going to take to get back to 70 wpm. We shall see.
Having fun with #mechanicalkeyboards.
#5t4n5 #colemakdh #mechanicalkeyboards #monkeytype #keebs
Monkeytype Best
My current best score on my new keyboard at Monkeytype.
I got the keyboard about a week ago and was hitting in the 50’s with it. A few days ago i replaced the stock switches it came with with Akko Crystal Silver switches and that upped my speed into the 60’s. Then, today, i replaced the cherry profile keycaps it came with with XDA profile keycaps and that’s upped it into the 70’s.
Now i just need to spend some time getting used to this set up. I’ve never had a keyboard that’s this fast before, it’s rather strange when your fingers can’t keep up with the keyboard. It feels like my fingers are tripping over themselves trying to keep up — i’ve never experienced that with a keyboard before.
Having fun with #mechanicalkeyboards.
#5t4n5 #akko #mechanicalkeyboards #monkeytype #keebs
My Keyboard
This is my lovely Akko 3068B Plus keyboard. I’ve changed the stock switches to Akko Crystal Silver switches, because they activate faster and bottom out earlier, and i really didn’t like the cherry profile (or whatever that uneven profile is) of the original keycaps, so i bought these rather pretty looking XDA pudding keycaps from Ali Express at a surprisingly good price. I love the way the pudding keycaps really make the RGB bling to the max as they have translucent sides and legends.
The faster switches and the flat profile of the XDA keycaps make this keyboard a very nice keyboard to type on. I touch type (that’s like with all my fingers and everything, while not looking at the keyboard ever) with the keyboard sitting just about my knees and this feels just about prefect to me, your mileage may vary depending on how you type.
You can keep a check on my typing speed at this post, which i will keep updated with my progress as i get more used to this keyboard set up.
#5t4n5 #akko #mechanicalkeyboards #keebs
Translation State — Ann Leckie
I get the feeling these latest books by Ann are fleshing out the universe she introduced in the Imperial Radch Trilogy and its many varied lifeforms and AI’s.
That’s not to say they’re not enjoyable, well written stories in their own right, they are. And i thoroughly enjoyed this one as well as Provenance, which introduced us to the Geck.
In this story we’re being introduced more intimately to the Presger Translators, who are genetically engineered, very strange beings.
To be honest, i’m looking forward to lots more of these books as we slowly moved towards the Conclave where they all will come together to discuss whether to accept the Two System’s AI’s into the treaty.
Bring it on.
Bye for now.
Ann’s Page
#scifi #annleckie
Ninja Foodi — Mixed Beans
How to make the perfect mixed beans in a Ninja Foodi
There is no need to pre-soak the beans or change the water. The slow cooker takes care of the soaking bit and this is all the water the beans need, they’ll absorb it all. When you’ve finished cooking these you will notice that the adzuki beans will have turned to mush and absorbed all the leftover, nutritious, bean cooking water, this is supposed to happen, it’s nice like that – mixed beans in pure bean sauce.
The following recipe is for a 7.5 lt Foodi. If you’re using a 6 lt Foodi use 200 g of each bean and reduce the water to 2 lt)
This will make about 3500 g of cooked beans so you’ll need some containers to freeze a whole bunch down. I freeze them in 450 g batches and add them to everything i eat — super duper banging healthy.
250 g Chick Peas
2.4 lt Boiling Water
Start “Slow Cook” 4:00 on Hi
When countdown gets to 3:30 add:
250 g Soy Beans
250 g Black(Turtle) Beans
250 g Pinto Beans
When countdown gets to 2:55 give the beans a stir.
Continue slow cooking on Hi until timer reaches 2:20, turn off the Foodi, the slow cooking is done.
Add:
250 g Adzuki Beans
Stir to mix in with other beans
Turn off slow cooker and start pressure cooker on Lo set for 10 minutes.
When the pressure cooker beeps, do not release pressure. Just leave it until the count up timer reaches 35 minutes and then release any left over pressure.
Stir beans well and place in a sink full of cold water to cool them with a lid on. Continue to replace the cold water as the beans cool and the water warms.
#5t4n5 #food #health #microbiome #ninjafoodi #recipes #vegan #wfpb
Provenance — Ann Leckie
After the two inbetweenie shorts we’re back to novel length stories in the Imperial Radch Universe.
In this story we find ourselves on a planet outside of the Radch empire who are having a bit of a political squabble with some neighbours over the jump gates in their neighbourhood, and also quite a bit of a political squabble amongst themselves.
Our protagonist, Ingray, is trying to show her mother that she’s better than her brother because they’re competing for her inheritance, but Ingray keeps blundering through, making mistakes, because she’s unearthed a can of worms that others have set in motion.
In some ways there’s a continuation of the Imperial Radch Trilogy in that people are talking about the upcoming Conclave with the Presger. The Geck have already sent an ambassador, who has gotten itself sidetracked chasing down a Geck fugitive, which just happens to fall right in Ingray’s path, turning her plans upside down as well. But, as everyone says, it’ll be a very long time before the Conclave happens, and i think this is Ann’s way of saying there’ll be a lot more of these side stories before we get to the Conclave. I do hope so because this is a wonderful universe that Ann has created and it’s nice to get out and explore it’s many cultures and life forms.
All in all though, Provenance has been a really good story. There’s plenty going on and Ingray is a wonderful protagonist to follow this story through.
Next up, Ann has written Translation State, also in this universe. Which i’m diving straight into eagerly.
Bye for now.
Ann’s Page
#scifi #annleckie
Fiction
. . .me thinks it’s a good time to re-read Asimov.
Fiction
Nonfiction
Nonfiction
